Goldmine partners Indonesia to spur sustainable trade

Goldmine Global Services has partnered Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) to promote opportunities in Africa and Indonesia.

In line with this, the Indonesian -Africa forum is geared towards exploring various economic opportunities to strengthen technical cooperation and enhance existing partnership between the Asian country and the continent.

The inaugural edition of the Indonesian-African forum, which will be held in April 2018, is an Indonesian government initiative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to further promote sustainable trade and investment relationship between Indonesia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Ishmael Balogun, president of Goldmine Global Services, stated that Africa was a potential market for Indonesian consumer goods such as palm oil, garments, technical cooperation and motorised vehicles, which were among several products that could be in demand in markets of sub-Saharan Africa.

“Similarly, Africa is swarming with raw materials which Indonesia may need for its manufacturing industries. More than 20 Indonesian companies, including textile producers, Indorama, Orange Drugs, pharmaceuticals, Tolaram Group, to mention just a few, have already partnered with Nigerians firms and have already invested in Africa,” Balogun said

“There are N5 billion modular refineries in Akwa Ibom, N6 billion investment between Tolaram Group and Kellogs at the Lekki Free Trade Zone,” he said.

He said the Indonesian -Africa forum was intended to provide a unique opportunity for around 550 people from the Indonesia business community, high level government officials and other stake holders, to gather, interact , and explore ways of establishing concrete economic cooperation and expand business networks.

“We believe the Indonesian –African Forum would provide a platform for Nigerians and other African businesses to showcase what they have to offer to the Indonesian business community, thereby improving the probability of attracting inward cooperation and investments in terms of foreign direct investments from Indonesia,” he stated.

Continuing, he said, “Goldmine Global Services in partnership with the Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre, Lagos, and our tour partner, the Honeymooner, are organising a 7-day tour to Indonesia, which is set to be attended by the Indonesian president, vice president, minister of foreign affairs, amongst other key industry personnel. As at today, no fewer than 23 ministers from 23 African countries have been confirmed attendance for the forum in Bali,” Ishmael stated.

Bagus Wicaksena, director for the Indonesia trade, said: “This is to strengthen business community in Nigeria with Indonesia business community, analyse the issues in order to strengthen the economy technically and its potential. We encourage Nigerians to invest in Indonesia as Indonesians invest in Nigeria.”

Indonesians relationship with Africa began in 1955 and with Nigeria, particularly, in 1965. Nigeria is Indonesia’s second biggest trading partner in Africa while South Africa is the first. The trade volume between Indonesia and Africa as at 2016 is $7.6 billion, out of which trade with Nigeria was $2.5bn.

Angel James