Indonesia Keen to Toughen Cooperation with Ethiopia: Ambassador

Addis Ababa, August 20/2019 Indonesia has a strong desire to further cement bilateral relationship with Ethiopia, Indonesian Ambassador to Ethiopia Al Busyra Basnur said.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, the Ambassador said that Indonesia is desirous to further elevate its relationship with Ethiopia into a higher level.

Ambassador Al Busyra stated that the diplomatic relationship between Ethiopia and Indonesia has been growing rapidly especially in the economic, social and cultural areas since its establishment in 1961.

He pointed out that five Indonesian companies have been engaged in several investment opportunities in Ethiopia and there is a strong interest from other Indonesian investors to come and invest in the country.

“I have been here for four and half months and before I left my country there were inquiries and enthusiasm from Indonesian companies to invest and engage in trade with Ethiopian friends,” he added.

Encouraging companies to explore the investment opportunities in Ethiopia is one of the priority areas of the embassy as a way to lift up the economic cooperation between the two countries, the ambassador said.

In view of that, Ethiopia and Indonesia are jointly working to organize bilateral events aimed at bolstering ties between the two countries.

“In October we will have the so called trade expo in Indonesia and around 20 businessmen are already registered to come to Indonesia, and next year in this embassy we are going to have the trade expo between Indonesia and Ethiopia.” he said. 

Data from the embassy indicated that the volume of trade between the two countries was 293.37 million USD in 2017 and Ethiopia imports most of electronics, hygiene and detergents from Indonesia and exported several agricultural products.

The two countries are also striving to maintain their long served social and cultural relationships, the Ambassador said.

“Next year we are going to have the youth exchange programs between Ethiopia and Indonesia. We will send around 20 Ethiopian students to Indonesia, they will have programs when they get back to Ethiopia they will get lot of information, connectivity, and partners and friends in Indonesia and the following year we are going to have students coming to Ethiopia and they will have the same program here,” he said.

Ambassador Al Busyra indicated that creating linkage between universities of the two countries is the other focus area in strengthening social relationship and the embassy is working with universities of Hawasa, Dessie and Bahir Dar in this respect.