NATIONAL NEWS - Against a backdrop of historic solidarity and shared vision for a better world, South Africa will move to deepen bilateral relations with Indonesia during an official State Visit to the Southeast Asian country by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday.

This according to Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes, who spoke to SAnews ahead of the State Visit in Jakarta.

“It’s a high level exchange and an opportunity to recognise mutual cooperation, to respect the benefits of our bilateral relationship and to deepen multilateralism between our two countries, as it relates to our participation in global governance institutions.

“The fact that Indonesia has been accepted as a member of the BRICS+ family bodes quite well for our bilateral relationship,” Botes said on Tuesday.

The history between the two countries dates to the 1600s with the arrival of the first people of Indonesian descent in South Africa. In 1694, celebrated religious leader of noble descent, Sheikh Yusuf Al Makassari, was exiled from Jakarta (known then as Batavia) to Cape Town, where he became one of the first to preach and spread the teachings of Islam in the Cape.

A shrine was erected in Cape Town in his honour, where his legacy is celebrated by the Islamic community.

In the 1990s, former President Nelson Mandela visited that country and developed a deep appreciation for the Indonesian Batik shirt – known in South Africa as the Madiba shirt. 

Relations between the two countries were formalised in 1994, with several Memoranda of Understanding and agreements signed since that time.

“We have a structured bilateral mechanism between South Africa and Indonesia that guides the relationship between the two nations. [The] high level visitation is really an expression – in the form of a State Visit – of the nature of the relationship and its propensity.

“Indonesia has been a key pen holder, multilaterally, to bring about Afro-Asian solidarity through convening the 1955 Bandung Conference 70 years ago, which still holds the principles that South Africa stands firmly for: non-alignment, respect for sovereign integrity of nation States and mutual respect,” Botes explained.

He highlighted that some of Indonesia’s actions on the global stage are in line with South Africa’s own policies.

“The role that Indonesia has played, for example, as a key interlocutor in peace diplomacy, on behalf of the Palestinian people, is significant.

“Much of the work that Indonesia has done, geopolitically, is reconcilable with South Africa’s foreign policy…in particular over the past year,” he told SAnews.

Trade relations have also strengthened, with South African exports to Indonesia standing at R10.5 billion and Indonesian imports amounting to R16.9 billion.

In this regard, the Deputy Minister remarked during the SA-Indonesia Business Forum that the two countries’ longstanding trade relationship can be transformed into a powerful economic partnership for the modern era.

“Our priority investment sectors include mining, manufacturing, services, infrastructure, and the green economy – with particular potential in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and green hydrogen, as well as the oil and gas sector.

“Indonesia’s leadership in the global nickel industry positions it as a natural partner for South Africa, whose reserves of manganese and platinum group metals are vital for battery and fuel cell technologies. 

“By integrating our strengths, we can create a sustainable electric-mobility value chain – from upstream mineral extraction, to downstream manufacturing and recycling. South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, valued at over R1.5 trillion, sets out a pathway for investment in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and hydrogen technologies,” the Deputy Minister said.

Following the business forum, Botes told SAnews that at least two areas were highlighted for pursuit.

“A key ambition from the business forum is the establishment of a working group that will ultimately lead to the launching of the South Africa-Indonesia Business Council. 

“The second… was on a possible partnership on the managing of Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Indonesia has 19 SEZs - most with particular mandates. We think there are areas for collaboration in terms of SEZ governance and the digitisation thereof, so we will be pursuing some interesting discussions, which – hopefully – will ultimately lead to an establishment of a MoU,” Botes said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State Visit will commence at 6am South African time on Wednesday. – SAnews.gov.za

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