TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi met with her Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf in Algiers on Wednesday, Dec. 20, discussing energy and trade cooperation, as well as the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.

During the meeting, Retno conveyed another investment plan by Indonesian energy giant Pertamina of US$900 million by 2048 in the Algerian energy sector. “Pertamina is ready to continue expanding their investment in Algeria, including in new areas such as refinery and decarbonization,” she said in a written statement on Wednesday.

The investment plan is an initiative in the energy sector, one of three areas of cooperation discussed by the two ministers to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

They also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on energy and mining sectors. Retno said the MoU was expected to strengthen government-to-government (G2G) cooperation and promote business-to-business (B2B) cooperation and investment in the energy sector.

On trade cooperation, Retno highlighted that Algeria is among Indonesia’s top five trading partners in Africa, with trade volume growing steadily at 15,77% annually. According to her, there is still potential for growth.

“To bolster our two-way trade and ensure a more sustainable and balanced trade, Indonesia proposed a Preferential Trade Agreement between the two countries, and I sought Minister Attaf’s support,” Retno hoped.

The two countries also agreed to reactivate bilateral mechanisms, including the Ministerial Level Joint Commission meeting and the Senior Official bilateral consultation to be held in Jakarta in the first half of 2024.

Apart from trade and energy cooperation, they also discussed the Palestinian issue. Indonesia and Algeria are united in condemning the ongoing hostilities by Israel, demanding a permanent ceasefire and sustained humanitarian assistance.

Retno Marsudi, representing Indonesia as chair of ASEAN until the end of the year, also welcomed Algeria's interest in joining the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

NABIILA AZZAHRA A.

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