"I hope that during my tenure in Namibia, the relationship between Indonesia and Namibia will be stronger and more agreements and cooperation will be established," he said during a media briefing in Wisma Duta, Windhoek, Wednesday (January 13, 2021), according to a statement released by the Indonesian Embassy in Windhoek on Thursday.
Although Indonesia established diplomatic relations with Namibia on May 13, 1991, the relations between the two countries date back to 1955, and Indonesia even participated in helping Namibia fight for its independence at the United Nations forum, Ambassador Pratignyo stated.
In the past three decades, Indonesia and Namibia have agreed on several areas of economic cooperation, including in trade, investment, tourism and agriculture, he noted.
“The relationship between the two countries has become significantly closer after President Hage Geingob's State Visit to Indonesia in 2018, which, among others, resulted in the signing of the MoU on Maritime and Fisheries Cooperation and between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry,” he said.
The Indonesian Embassy in Windhoek has also established communication with Namibian businesses as part of an effort to increase economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. For example, it held a recent meeting with Namibian importers and introduced palm oil products and their derivatives.
The Ambassador called Namibian journalists to Wednesday’s media briefing and invited them to watch the video recording of Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs' Annual Press Statement, which was delivered on January 8, 2021.
In her statement, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi highlighted the aim to strengthen Indonesia's economic diplomacy for the next five years, as directed by President Joko Widodo to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahendra Siregar as well as Indonesian representatives abroad. (INE)
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Translator: Suwanti/Aria Cindyara
Editor: Suharto
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