On the 19th of February 2021, HE Dr Ibrahim Mayaki CEO of the AUDA-NEPAD, met with HE Mr Salman Al Farisi Ambassador of the republic of Indonesia to South Africa. The two parties agreed to open avenues of cooperation with a South-South win-win perspective.

During the same meeting, the Indonesian Government expressed its willingness to support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) process and the opportunities it brings to the continent. In the same vein, the CEO of AUDA-NEPAD highlighted the new role of the agency and its focus on helping to capacitate small businesses and the informal market to benefit from the AfCFTA. The agency supports the AfCFTA Secretariat towards unlocking the potential that this market presents, not only to Africa but to the rest of world. 

Furthermore, both parties highlighted the importance of the South-South cooperation, especially in vital sectors such as infrastructure, education and job creation.

Following this meeting, the dignitaries gave guidance on the creation of a technical mechanism to seek ways of promoting cooperation and specified common areas of interest. Discussions are ongoing and progress is being made.

The technical cooperation between the Republic of Indonesia and AUDA-NEPAD, and their openness to explore non-traditional markets and new approaches of cooperation drive this partnership to be on the map of international relations for the future.

The AUDA-NEPAD team expresses its high consideration for the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Pretoria and through it to the Government of Indonesia for their involvement in the progressive process for the prosperity of the African continent.

About the Republic of Indonesia:

The Republic of Indonesia is situated between Southeast Asia and Oceania, it is located between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of more than 17 000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo (Kalimantan) and New Guinea (Papua).  Indonesia is the world's largest island country and the 14th-largest country by land area, at 1,904,569 square kilometres (735,358 square miles) with a population of 270 million people. It is 4th Most populous Country in the World and 1st Most populous Country in the Islamic World. The economy of Indonesia is the world's 15th largest by nominal GDP and 7th by GDP at PPP.