Foreign Minister: President Jokowi's Visit To Kenya Strengthens Developing Country Cooperation

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s visit to Kenya was aimed at strengthening solidity and cooperation between developing countries.

As a fellow Global South state, said Retno, Indonesia views Kenya as an important partner in the sub-Saharan African region.

"The visit to Kenya is the first state visit of the President of the Republic of Indonesia in 44 years of relations between the two countries," said Retno in a media briefing regarding President Jokowi's visit to Kenya, quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as reported by ANTARA, Monday, August 21.

In addition, Retno also mentioned that the two countries have a historical closeness as fellow members of the Non-Aligned Movement that inherits Bandung Spirit. Previously, when delivering a press statement with Kenyan President William Ruto, President Jokowi invited Kenya to strengthen the Spirit Village by advancing the collaboration of South Global countries. It is time for the voices and interests of developing countries to be heard, including the interest to make a leap of development for better welfare for the people of developing countries," said Foreign Minister Retno, referring to President Jokowi's statement. In a bilateral meeting with President Ruto, President Jokowi also emphasized Indonesia's commitment to support Kenya's development in the health sector, food security, and disaster management. Currently, Indonesia is preparing a strategic design of development with Africa in several priority sectors, and in the meeting it was agreed to improve cooperation in sectors that are Kenya's priorities," said Retno.Retno noted that President Jokowi's visit to Kenya resulted in 15 collaborations, both intergovernmental and BUMN, as well as the private sector.Three memorandums of understanding (MoU) agreed between the Indonesian government and Kenya, namely in the energy, mining and pharmacies, as well as pharmaceutical fields. In addition, the government of the two countries also agreed on a letter of interest statement (letter of intent/LoI) on promotion and facilitation of investment. Meanwhile, 11 MoU and the agreement made by the private BUMN as well as those made by the private sector were two geothermal MoUs on the Indonesian side carried out by Pertamina Geothermal Energy; one MoU cooperation in the upstream oil sector by Pertamina; two MoUs for penetration of Indonesian pharmaceutical products were carried out by Biofarma and one other was carried out by Combiphar.

Furthermore, one MoU related to support for the fulfillment of domestic meat needs; one MoU related to venture joint for plantations, refinery, and marketing of palm oil and its derivatives; one MoU related to joint investment for the development of the textile industry; one MoU related to exploration and mining development in Kenya; as well as one Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) related to cooperation in streaming and gas exploration by Pertamina.Kanya became the first country in Africa visited by President Joko Widodo, during his first working visit to the continent. After Kenya, President Jokowi was scheduled to visit Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa. In South Africa, President Jokowi will attend the BRICS Summit - a group of developing countries consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - where Indonesia is present as an invitation.