Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan visited Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo after Kenya. He was greeted by Congolese Minister of Industry Julien Paluku Kahongya at the N’djili International Airport and met with Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde.
“Indonesia sees Congo as a strategic partner in South-South Cooperation, especially in terms of protecting tropical forests and managing critical minerals,” said Luhut in a written statement quoted on Friday, January 27, 2023.
Luhut mentioned that Indonesia and Congo, as well as Brazil, signed a pact to protect global tropical forests on November 14, 2022, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Bali. “Indonesia, Congo, and Brazil are expected to control the price of carbon credits so that they are beneficial for the sustainable management of tropical forests,” he explained.
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Prime Minister Lukonde appreciated Indonesia’s success in holding the G20 Summit. He also thanked Indonesia for always bringing the voice of developing countries to global forums.
“Congo learns a lot from Indonesia, especially in terms of natural resource management for development, sustainable industrialization, and government digitalization,” said Lukonde.
He also proposed that Indonesia and Congo form a joint economic forum. “The aim is to discuss cooperation opportunities that can be explored between the two countries,” he opined.
After meeting with Lukonde, Luhut with Indonesian Ambassador in Nairobi Mohamad Hery Saripudin, the ministry’s officials, and the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Director for Africa participated in a discussion led by Congolese Deputy Prime Minister Bazaiba.
“Indonesia is ready to assist Congo’s development by sharing experiences through economic partnership,” said Luhut. At the end of the meeting, Luhut and Deputy Prime Minister Bazaiba signed the Minutes of Meeting as a step forward to enhance the strategic ties between the two countries.
