Nigeria, Indonesia Trade Volume Reaches 4.78 Billion US Dollars: Ambassador

The Republic of Indonesia has commended the Volume of Trade between Nigeria and Indonesia that reached about Four Points Seventy Eight Billion US Dollars.

The Ambassador of Republic of Indonesia Ambassador Usra Harahab made commendation during an event organized by the Embassy marking the Indonesian Seventy Nine Independent Anniversary and the opening of Indonesia Mini Expo 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.

Volume of Trade between Nigeria and Indonesia Ambassador said,
“If we take a look to the bilateral trade between Nigeria and Indonesia in 2023, we will see a growing impressively growth in volume, accounted for 83%, with a value of US$ 4 point 78 billion”.

“There were also business deals that has been US$ 16 point 8 million in value during Indonesia Expo 2023 in Lagos”. Ambassador Usra Harahab said.

Visa process

Mr. Harahab explained “Indonesian Government has decided to ease the visa process for Nigerian businessmen who are interested in attending annual Trade Expo Indonesia”.

“Indonesia and Nigeria must set an even higher ambition in our bilateral cooperation.
The cooperation has also existed in manufacturing coal-based fertilizer, invented by Indonesian researchers. Being interested in this, Bayero University in Kano, conducted a research and approved of using the coal-based fertilizer, as one of the strategies of soil conservation and nutrients enhancement”.

“Coal-based fertilizers contain a lot of micronutrients that can be used to increase the fertility of soil. High carbon content in coal is the source of energy for microorganisms that has an impact on increasing soil fertility”.

“These low-rank coals are the main sources of organic matter, so that it is an alternative source for improving the fertility of soil and plant growth”. Ambassador noted

Economic hardship

The Envoy said, “As we currently deal with many global challenges, we need to push for an even closer and deeper collaboration.
For this reason, Indonesian and Nigerian Governments conducted a capacity building programs, which are, among others, artificial insemination course in livestock, and fishery technology program”. The Envoy said

Educational relation

Mr. Usra Harahab said “Apart from this, the Indonesian Government offers numerous scholarships to foreign students, including Nigerians, to study in Indonesia. It is important for Indonesia to contribute to the human resource development and promote cultural understanding between developing countries”.

Indonesia also provides scholarships for international Master’s and PhD students pursuing Military Science studies in Indonesia”. Ambassador Harahab added.

In his remarks Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuga, commended the existing bilateral relation exists between, since 1960s, expressed readiness to continue strengthening collaboration in different capacities of human concern.

Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar who was represented by the Director Asia and Pacific, Mrs. Mistura Abdulrahim said Nigeria and Indonesia both have huge potentials in terms of population and ethnicity and therefore the two countries have common destiny.

Trade

Nigeria is the second largest trade partner after South Africa.
“Nigeria and Indonesia both huge populous and ethnic enjoy robust bilateral relation for decade, after South Africa in the area of trade and economic activities Nigeria is Indonesian second largest trade partner in Africa after South Africa and the Volume of Trade between Nigeria and Indonesia has increased, and both countries have announced plans to deepen trade ties following the investment of Twenty Five Indonesian Agro Companies in Nigeria”.
“Indonesia has also adopted Indonesia African Infrastructural Dialogue which has grown Indonesian business worth over two billion US Dollars for about Nine African countries including Nigeria”. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar said.

Collaboration
“In the area of strategic partnership Nigeria and Indonesia enjoy strategic collaboration in the area of education including deeper cooperation between National Policy and Strategic Studies and Indonesian National Resealiance Institute”.
“From the point of view of our Foreign Policy it has been our strategy to promote partnership with friendly countries to advance to advance the economy and social agenda of the Federal government by attracting direct foreign investments, skills and technology for wealth and job creation, food security, poverty eradication for economic growth using the four Ds diplomacy initiative as a tool to achieve this aim”. Foreign Affairs Minister added

Olusola Akintonde