Nigeria and Indonesia are seeking to expand their more than $3 billion annual trade volume, with both countries pushing for increased investment, technology transfer, local production and stronger business-to-business ties.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Bambang Suharto, disclosed this in Abuja at a reception organised by the Indonesian Embassy to mark the country’s 81st Independence Anniversary.
Suharto said Nigeria had become one of Indonesia’s foremost trading partners in Africa, adding that the two countries had considerable scope to expand their economic relationship.
“Our bilateral trade has consistently surpassed USD 3 billion annually, cementing Nigeria’s position as one of Indonesia’s foremost trading partners in Africa,” he said.
According to him, the economic relationship was already reflected in the daily lives of citizens of both countries, with Nigeria supplying energy that contributes to Indonesia’s energy security, while Indonesian products had become household staples for Nigerian consumers and businesses.
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He said some Indonesian products were produced locally in Nigeria, powered by Nigerian workers and sustained by local consumers. I note that the two countries, with a combined market of more than 550 million people, had young populations, dynamic businesses and substantial natural and human resources that could support further economic cooperation.
“These elements provide a powerful foundation for expanding trade, investment, technological exchange, and employment opportunities,” he said.
He also highlighted the contribution of Indonesian companies operating in Nigeria, saying their activities went beyond commercial investment and job creation to include corporate social responsibility initiatives.
He commended Dufil Prima Foods Ltd, Primera Food Nigeria Ltd, Tempo Scan Pacific, Glorious Dexa Mandaya Ltd and Orange Kalbe Ltd for their contributions to the bilateral relationship and support for the anniversary reception.
Suharto stressed that the objective should not be limited to increasing trade but should ensure that businesses, local industries and communities benefited from the relationship.
“Our ultimate ambition is not simply to trade more but to cultivate a resilient partnership in which businesses on both sides thrive, local industries develop, and our people directly reap the benefits of the opportunities we create together,” he said.
The ambassador said Indonesia viewed Africa as “not a distant region, but a vital partner”, adding that initiatives such as the Indonesia-Africa Forum were helping to promote cooperation in energy, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure and human-resource development.
He also stressed the importance of educational and cultural exchanges, noting that Indonesian scholarship programmes had enabled Nigerian students to study in Indonesia and build long-term connections.
Suharto said Nigeria and Indonesia also had a longstanding record of cooperation as members of the Developing Eight (D-8), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement.
“The shared platforms provided opportunities for both countries to contribute to a more representative and inclusive international system,” he said.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who represented the Nigerian government at the event, said Nigeria wanted to translate its longstanding goodwill with Indonesia into a broader economic partnership.
He said Indonesia’s experience in industrialisation, manufacturing, digital transformation, infrastructure, agriculture, maritime development and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises offered valuable opportunities for Nigeria.
“Nigeria is particularly interested in expanding cooperation that can support the development of local productive capacity, strengthen value chains, promote technology transfer, and attract sustainable investment,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary identified agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, the digital economy and creative industries as priority areas, while calling for stronger links among businesses, chambers of commerce and financial institutions in both countries.
He said addressing practical barriers such as market access, business information, connectivity and contract facilitation would be critical to expanding bilateral commerce.
Beyond trade, he said Nigeria and Indonesia, as major members of the Global South, could work together on reform of the international financial architecture, sustainable development financing, climate action, food and energy security and global governance.
He also called for closer coordination between Abuja and Jakarta at the United Nations and other multilateral platforms on issues including sustainable development, peace and security, climate change and international law.
On people-to-people relations, the Permanent Secretary called for greater exchanges among universities, research institutions, cultural organisations and young professionals.
“People-to-people relations remain an essential pillar of sustainable bilateral cooperation,” he said, adding that education, skills development, science, technology and innovation could provide further opportunities for collaboration.
On his part, the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Baba Ndace, urged Nigerian journalists to pay greater attention to Indonesia and help deepen public understanding of the relationship between the two countries.
Ndace, who said he had maintained close relations with the Indonesian Embassy for about 15 to 20 years, recalled several professional visits to Indonesia, including Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Bali.
He also recalled that he was nominated in 2014 as the only African journalist to cover the inauguration of then newly elected Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
“I have done quite a lot of research on the Indonesia-Nigeria relationship, looked at our unique areas of comparative advantage, even our politics, our economy, and even our political history,” Ndace said.
He said the speeches at the reception reinforced the historical connection and contemporary opportunities between Nigeria and Indonesia.
Ndace described Nigeria as a rising power in Africa and Indonesia as an important power in Asia, saying geographical distance should not become a barrier to closer relations.
“As reporters, as journalists, we must do all to help in shaping positive narratives about Nigeria and Indonesia, and indeed the Global South relationship,” he said.
He urged journalists covering foreign affairs to take advantage of the relationship between the two countries by reporting more extensively on Indonesia and giving Nigerians greater insight into its development trajectory.
The event underscored the shared commitment of Nigeria and Indonesia to build on their longstanding diplomatic ties by translating existing goodwill into stronger economic, technological, educational and people-to-people partnerships.
