TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is ready to take part in Tanzania`s industrialization efforts to become a middle-income country in the near future.

The statement was conveyed by the Indonesian Ambassador to Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and the Comoros Union, Ratlan Pardede, in remarks at the 73rd anniversary of Indonesian Independence in Dar es Salaam on September 14, 2018.

"Apart from the challenges faced by the international community, Indonesia is ready to work with all partners around the world, including Tanzania, to maintain all the positive economic progress we have enjoyed in the past 10 years," Ambassador Ratlan remarked in a written statement to Antara on Saturday.

In the event, which was attended by about 200 people from the diplomatic community in Dar es Salaam, government officials, businessmen, the Indonesian community in Tanzania, and Zanzibar State Minister, Issa Haji Ussi Gavu, the Indonesian ambassador, conveyed several important matters related to the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Several advances in the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Tanzania were demonstrated by the participation of Tanzanian government and business representatives at the Indonesia-Africa Forum in April 2018 and the visit of Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shen to Indonesia to explore more economic opportunities for Indonesia and Tanzania.

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"The volume of trade between Indonesia and Tanzania has increased exponentially from $274.3 million in 2016 to $303.4 million in 2017, an increase of 35.2 percent," Ratlan remarked.

Furthermore, he also explained the ongoing cooperation in the development of human resources and the agricultural sector between Indonesia and Tanzania, especially regarding the provision of scholarships to study in Indonesia as well as the establishment of Agriculture and Rural Training Centers (FARTCs) in Mkindo, Morogoro.

In Zanzibar, Indonesia also collaborated with the Zanzibar government to present Indonesian seaweed experts in conducting training to bring added value to seaweed.

"Realizing the importance of the agricultural sector as a basic foundation for economic development since 1980, Indonesia remains committed to support the development of Tanzania`s agricultural sector," Ratlan revealed.

In his remarks, Zanzibar State Minister Issa Haji Ussi Gavu emphasized the importance of the two countries to not only share the past but also the future.

"Along with bilateral political ties, there are also formal economic relations. Thanks to this effort, the two countries have tried to consolidate not only political cooperation but also economic cooperation related to the bilateral relations that have been established," Gavu noted.

Further, he added that relationship of giving and receiving between the two countries was also reflected in the people-to-people cooperation whose benefits proved mutually beneficial.

The Indonesian Embassy in Dar es Salaam will continue to maintain its commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors between Indonesia and accredited countries to a higher level.

ANTARA