Indonesia, Nigeria Agree to Increase Economic Cooperation and Combat Narcotics Trade
Jakarta. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her Nigerian counterpart, Geoffrey Onyeama, discussed opportunities to strengthen economic ties and combat transnational drug trafficking between the two countries on Monday (05/06).
"Indonesia’s foreign policy focus to Africa serves as a strategic momentum to increase economic cooperation between Indonesia and Nigeria," Retno said, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During her visit to Nigeria on June 3-6, Retno pushed for a preferential trade agreement to increase bilateral trade and asked support from Onyeama to form a preferential trade agreement between Indonesia and countries within the Economic Community of Western African States (Ecowas).
Nigeria is Indonesia’s largest trade partner in sub-Saharan Africa, and is a potential market for exports of more Indonesian products in non-traditional markets. Trade value between the two countries was valued at around $1.5 billion in 2016.
The Southeast Asian nation mainly exports palm oil to Nigeria and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. There are currently 14 Indonesian companies investing in Nigeria, but bilateral trade between the two countries has seen a decline over the past five years.
According to Retno, lowering tariffs is one key aspect to increase trade between Indonesia and African countries.
"Lowering tariffs and eliminating non-tariff barriers are keys to increase Indonesia-Nigeria trade, as well as trade between Indonesia and countries in West Africa," Retno said.
Retno was accompanied by business representatives from the Garuda Maintenance Facility (GMF), Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Indonesia Kereta Api (INKA), Indonesia Eximbank and Sasa.
"Indonesia means business with Africa. It’s time strong political cooperation between the two countries is utilized for increased economic cooperation," Retno said during her opening speech at the 4th Indonesia-Nigeria Business Forum in Lagos, as quoted in the statement.
During the business forum, GMF signed a memorandum of understanding with Nigeria’s Max Air for airplane maintenance and on-site support operations, valued at $3.4 million.
The foreign ministers also agreed to push for the implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed in 2013 on eradicating drugs. They also agreed to exchange intelligence information and increase cooperation on capacity building in counterterrorism efforts.
They also discussed President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s upcoming plans to visit Nigeria in December.
Indonesia’s Capital Punishment
Nigerian media site Premium Times reported that the Nigerian government appealed to Indonesia to do away with its controversial death penalty and instead impose life imprisonment sentences for the worst offenders.
"On consular issues, Nigeria recognizes the emergency narcotics situation in Indonesia and pleaded for commuting the death penalty to life imprisonment," Premium Times quoted Onyeama as saying.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), 50 Nigerians are currently serving various jail terms for different offenses in Indonesia and 11 of them are on death row.
This is Retno’s second visit to Africa this year. In February, the foreign minister paid an official visit to South Africa and Mozambique. All three trips are integral to the upcoming Indonesia-Africa forum in 2018.
After Retno’s official visit to Nigeria, the Indonesian delegation will continue their visit, led by deputy minister AM Fachir, to Senegal and Kenya on June 7 -10. The business delegation will then continue on to Ethiopia.
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