The ceremony held to mark Patel’s appointment was inaugurated by the Indonesian Ambassador to South Africa, Salman Al Farisi, according to a written statement issued by the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria and received here on Wednesday.
The appointment ceremony was attended by the premier of KwaZulu Natal (KZN) province, Sihle Zikalala, and officials from KZN province and the city of Durban.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Salman Al Farisi affirmed that the presence of a Honorary Consul in Durban is a reflection of Indonesia’s determination to develop bilateral cooperation with South Africa, particularly KZN province.
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Ambassador Al Farisi also expressed the hope that the honorary consul would serve as a bridge builder, connecting stakeholders from the two countries, particularly in the economy, trade, and tourism sectors.
“As we all know, Durban is one of the main port cities in South Africa, which has a wide market access not only into South Africa, but also with neighboring countries. Therefore, Indonesia sees Durban as a strategic location endowed with many potentials that could be explored in economic cooperation," he stated.
The appointment ceremony was followed by two separate meetings between a delegation led by the Indonesian Ambassador and the premier of KZN province and member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, Ambassador Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
In the meetings, both parties discussed efforts to enhance post COVID-19 economic development as well as some other aspects, such as sharing best practices on the role of MSMEs in the national economy and the utilization of technological advancements.
Prior to the ceremony, Ambassador Al Farisi and his delegation had also met representatives from the business community in Durban, including from Standard Bank, Sumitomo Rubber, Minara Chambers of Commerce, and the owner of business school in Durban, to discuss other potential cooperation. (INE)
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Reporter: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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