President Jokowi Receives Honorary Visit Of The Vice President Of Zambia In Bali

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo received an honorary visit from Zambia Vice President WK Mutale Nalumango in Badung, Bali, Wednesday, to discuss cooperation between the two countries in the economic field.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the meeting took place after the opening of the 7th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC).

"This morning after the opening of The 7th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, the President received a courtesy call and held a meeting with the Vice President of Zambia," said Retno Marsudi, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, May 25.

He said President Jokowi and the Vice President of Zambia discussed how the two countries would strengthen cooperation in the economic sector, where the President expressed hope that Indonesia's exports, including crude palm oil, paper and apparel, could continue to be increased to Zambia.

Jokowi also conveyed information to the Vice President of Zambia regarding several Indonesian State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) currently exploring cooperation in Zambia. One of them is a state-owned railway company, PT INKA, which is exploring the provision of locomotives for the Zambia Railway project from Victoria Falls to Chingola City.

In addition, Retno continued, there are also Indonesian SOEs that are also exploring cooperation in the context of expanding and modernizing the Lusaka International Airport terminal.

While in the new renewable energy sector, Jokowi conveyed the plan to create a joint venture subsidiary of a state-owned company in the construction and management of solar power plants in Zambia.

"And the President conveyed the desire of Indonesian pharmaceutical companies to contribute in strengthening the health sector in Zambia, especially or in particular in an effort to fulfill the vaccine needed in Zambia," he explained.

In response to what President Jokowi said, added Retno, the Vice President of Zambia also expressed his appreciation for Indonesia in disaster management. This appreciation is not the first time Indonesia has received, but at the GPDRR meeting several parties also expressed similar appreciation.

"The Vice President of Zambia also expressed his appreciation for the way Indonesia is managing COVID-19, and this was also conveyed in the speeches of the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and also the President of the United Nations General Assembly," he said.

The Vice President of Zambia also conveyed the importance of Indonesia and Zambia to hold a joint commission meeting. The vice president of Zambia expressed his wish that Indonesia could assist in capacity building in the fields of disaster management and mining.

"Because these are sectors that are needed from Zambia; and earlier it was also mentioned the desire to cooperate in the agricultural sector. So, that was discussed with the President with the Vice President of Zambia," said Retno Marsudi.