Somalia and Indonesia sign agreements to deepen bilateral ties in trade, agriculture, and education
0
0
Read Time:1 Minute, 46 Second
Jakarta (Bariga Afrika ) — Somalia and Indonesia have pledged to elevate their bilateral relations through concrete cooperation in trade, agriculture, maritime affairs, and education, following a historic visit by Somali Foreign Affairs Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali to Jakarta on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
The visit marked the first-ever official trip by a Somali foreign minister to Indonesia and culminated in the signing of several agreements with his Indonesian counterpart. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono welcomed Somalia’s outreach as “a sign of our shared commitment to building solidarity among Global South nations.” He added, “Amid current geopolitical challenges, the Indonesia–Somalia partnership is increasingly relevant. We both strive for a fair and inclusive global order based on mutual respect.”
Indonesia sees Somalia as a potential economic gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa and hopes to position its products in the region through Somali trade hubs. The two nations also agreed to intensify technical cooperation, particularly in agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, health, and meat processing.
One notable example of ongoing collaboration is Indonesia’s contribution to the development of an Intensive Care Unit at East Africa University Hospital in Bosaso. The project, carried out in partnership with Indonesian Aid and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), represents a growing emphasis on health diplomacy.
In education, Minister Sugiono invited Somalia to utilize Indonesian scholarship programs, including the Developing Countries Partnership (KNB), Darmasiswa, and The Indonesia Aid Scholarship (TIAS). Plans are also underway to expand cooperation in diplomatic training for Somali officials.
The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to promoting moderation and peace within the Islamic world. They pledged to work closely through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other multilateral platforms to advance common values and global dialogue.
As a symbolic step toward closer ties, the two foreign ministers signed a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports—marking the first move toward greater people-to-people connectivity.
Somalia and Indonesia formally established diplomatic relations on December 21, 1960, and have maintained warm ties ever since. Both are active members of the Non-Aligned Movement and continue to collaborate closely within South-South cooperation frameworks.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
