Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received a courtesy visit from Zambian Vice President W.K. Mutale Nalumango in Badung District, Bali Province, on Wednesday to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting took place after the opening of the 7th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR), Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi informed at a virtual press conference.
During the meeting, Jokowi said he expected Indonesia to increase the export volume of commodities such as crude palm oil, paper, and apparel to Zambia, she said.
He also told Nalumango that several Indonesian state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are currently exploring cooperation with the African country.
For instance, train and railway manufacturer PT Industri Kereta Api (INKA) is reviewing cooperation for providing locomotives for the Zambia Railway project linking Victoria Falls and Chingola City.
In addition, other Indonesian SOEs are exploring collaboration for expanding and modernizing the terminal of the Lusaka International Airport, the minister informed.
Furthermore, for the new and renewable energy sector, Widodo shared a plan to create a joint venture for the construction and management of solar power plants in Zambia. “The President also said that Indonesian pharmaceutical companies wish to contribute to strengthening the health sector in Zambia, especially to fulfill the demand for vaccines in the country,” Marsudi said.
During the meeting, the Vice President of Zambia lauded Indonesia for its disaster mitigation management, she added.
“The Zambian Vice President also appreciated Indonesia’s attempts to handle the COVID-19 (pandemic), which were also lauded by the deputy secretary general of the United Nations (Amina Mohammed) as well as the president of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly (Abdulla Shahid),” she said.
Nalumango also highlighted the importance of holding an Indonesia-Zambia joint commission meeting and said he expected Indonesia to help improve the disaster mitigation and mining sectors in Zambia.
“In addition, the plan of having an agricultural cooperation was also mentioned earlier,” the minister added.
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