Retno Marsudi Invites Gambian Govt to Attend Upcoming Indonesia-Africa Forum in Bali

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi invited the Gambian government to attend the second Indonesia-Africa Forum scheduled for September 3-4 this year in Bali. The invitation was extended on the sidelines of the 15th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit in Banjul, Gambia on May 4-5, 2024.

"During the meeting with the Gambian Foreign Minister, I also invited the Gambian government and business circles to attend the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum on September 3-4 in Bali," she said, according to a press statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Retno Marsudi met with Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara and paid a courtesy visit to Gambian President Adama Barrow to discuss the two countries' commitment to boosting economic cooperation.

Indonesia's trade with Gambia in 2023 reached US$64.2 million with a surplus of US$56.2 million, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported. This figure is a significant increase compared to 2022 with a total of US$47.2 million and a surplus of US$47.2 million.

Meeting on the sidelines of the OIC Summit, Retno and the Gambian Foreign Minister signed a Visa Free Agreement for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders. Gambia also expressed its appreciation for Indonesia's commitment to restoring the Agricultural Rural Farmer Training Center (ARFTC) in Jenoi, Gambia.

Indonesia established the 6.6-hectare agricultural training center in 1998 through collaboration between the governments of Gambia, Indonesia, and the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO). The development of ARFTC was carried out to help increase food productivity in Gambia and West African countries.

Apart from meeting the Gambian Foreign Minister, Retno spoke with foreign ministers from various other countries, including Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Bangladesh, Morocco, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam. "Almost all meetings discussed the matter of Palestine," she said.

She also met other officials such as the Secretary General of the OIC, the former Palestinian Foreign Minister who is now an advisor to the president, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda.

NABIILA AZZAHRA

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