24-8-2023 (JAKARTA) In a bid to bolster trade ties between their respective nations, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi have announced their intention to enhance their preferential trade agreement (PTA).
“We have agreed to optimize the PTA through cooperation between the chambers of commerce in both countries,” Jokowi stated in a press release.
The two leaders convened for a bilateral meeting at President Nyusi’s office in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique, on Wednesday.
President Jokowi underscored Mozambique’s significance as a close friend of Indonesia, highlighting that it was the first African country to enter into a preferential trade agreement with Indonesia.
He further noted that since the implementation of the Indonesia-Mozambique PTA in 2022, bilateral trade has experienced a substantial surge, registering a remarkable 78 percent increase as of June 2023.
In a bid to foster even more robust trade collaboration, President Jokowi encouraged Mozambique to welcome Indonesian wood and train exports.
Moreover, President Jokowi reaffirmed his commitment to bolstering development cooperation with Africa over the next five years. This encompassing cooperation will span various sectors, including energy, health security, agriculture, and other areas of mutual interest to Mozambique.
During the meeting, the two leaders signed several cooperation agreements, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) focused on the control of drugs and biological products, as well as a letter of interest regarding bilateral cooperation within the defense sector.
President Jokowi is currently on a state visit to four African countries from August 21–24, marking his inaugural trip to the continent since assuming office. Following visits to Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique, he is scheduled to proceed to South Africa to participate in the BRICS Summit.
