‘Indonesia must forge partnerships with Africa’

THE Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, has called for strengthened collaboration between Indonesia and Africa, emphasising the need for synergised laws that enhance the ease of doing business between the two regions.

Speaking at the recently concluded Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Summit, Adv Mudenda urged both regions to work together within the framework of Africa’s Agenda 2063, which aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable development across the continent.

He said both regions must craft harmonised investment and trade laws that promote the establishment of one-stop-investment centres such as the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency, or the Rwanda Investment Board.

“Equally, synergised trade laws between Indonesia and Africa must guarantee ameliorated trade tariff barriers, trade payment systems and the convertibility of currencies between Indonesia and Africa. Furthermore, robust monetary and fiscal policies of the two regions should be synchronised to enhance speedy investment and trade between Indonesia and Africa,” said Adv Mudenda.

“It is cardinal that Indonesia and Africa do establish a joint corporate entity to superintend these efforts.”

Adv Mudenda said there are legal and policy frameworks between Indonesia and Africa that require implementation.

The frameworks include the Indonesia-Africa Trade Agreement (2018), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) Agreement (2018), the Indonesia-Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement (2016), Indonesia Law No. 7/2014 (amended in 2020), the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Action Plan for boosting Intra-Africa Trade, among others.

Adv Mudenda said these frameworks have significantly enhanced trade and cooperation between Indonesia and Africa.

“The Indonesia-Africa trade grew from $3,4 billion in 2009 to $8,5 billion in 2020. The Indonesia-SACU Preferential Trade Agreement (2016) has reduced tariffs on over 7 000 products. The Indonesia Customs Law (2018) streamlined customs processes and reduced clearance times,” he said.

“The Indonesia-Africa Economic Agreement (2018) enhanced cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure Indonesia’s active involvement in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), and bolstered regional integration and expanded market access.”

Adv Mudenda said the Indonesian laws and regulations which enable MSMEs to access African markets, finance and digital technology knowledge-based economies between Indonesia and Africa have a positive impetus.

He urged Asian and African parliaments to ratify and domesticate agreements to proficiently upscale investments and trade efforts between the two regions.

Adv Mudenda also highlighted issues concerning climate change affecting both regions.

“The vagaries of climate change impacts continue to negate the accelerated tempo of global economies inclusive of those of Indonesia and Africa. This calls for parliaments to expeditiously domesticate the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement (2015), and its subsequent Katowice Rule Book into in-depth climate change municipal laws,” he said.

Adv Mudenda said the laws should assist in addressing climate mitigation, adaptation and financing measures as well as conjuring joint research on climate action technologies and disaster risk reduction as driven by the robust application of Artificial Intelligence (AI). “Africa and Indonesia should effectively collaborate in the health service delivery sector through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) health cluster which must symbiotically collaborate with the Africa Centre for Disease Control in the face of the threatening Mpox,” he said.

Adv Mudenda said parliamentarians are duty-bound to draw inspiration and guidance from the African Union Health Strategy to render legislative support to these efforts through facilitating protocols and regional legal frameworks that set standards for health equity, access to primary healthcare, and the prevention of chronic diseases.

“In this regard, Indonesia and Africa should leverage research and development in pharmacology for ease of access to the required vaccines. Our tertiary institutions must lead in this regard through the concerted application of innovation, science, and digital technologies,” he said.

“The Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Forum must reverberate with positive outcomes if it is to achieve greater heights of poignant success as opined by the former Pan-African President, Gertrude Mongella, who affirmed that “as the world’s largest archipelago and the second-largest continent, Indonesia and Africa are natural partners in building a more prosperous and resilient future.”

Adv Mudenda said strong parliamentary cooperation can facilitate knowledge sharing, joint policy formulation, and mutual accountability all of which are essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in both regions.