South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed his country’s commitment to deepening political and economic cooperation with Indonesia on Wednesday, following high-level talks with President Prabowo Subianto during his first official state visit to Jakarta.
At a joint press conference, Ramaphosa announced plans to expand bilateral trade and investment, enhance multilateral collaboration, and promote stronger business-to-business partnerships between the two nations.
“During our discussions, we affirmed the importance of expanding and deepening bilateral relations on both political and economic fronts through existing bilateral mechanisms,” Ramaphosa said. “We agreed on the need to increase trade between our two countries as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth.”
He emphasized the shared goal of building more resilient and diversified economies, noting that both South Africa and Indonesia face similar geopolitical challenges.
The visit followed the South Africa–Indonesia Business Forum, where private sector representatives explored new opportunities for collaboration in trade, investment, and industry. Ramaphosa was accompanied by key ministers responsible for international relations, defence, trade, and agriculture—signalling the strategic weight of the engagement.
The two leaders also discussed global issues, including cooperation within multilateral platforms such as BRICS, the G20, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Ramaphosa welcomed Indonesia’s recent accession to BRICS and extended an invitation to President Prabowo to attend the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg.
Both leaders exchanged views on international peace and security, including the conflict in Gaza, and reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
South Africa and Indonesia share deep-rooted historical ties dating back to the 17th century when people of Indonesian descent were brought to the Cape by Dutch colonialists—laying the foundation for the strong diplomatic relationship established formally in 1994.
Ramaphosa’s visit to Indonesia is part of a broader three-nation tour of Southeast Asia aimed at strengthening South Africa’s engagement with the region. He is scheduled to travel to Vietnam on Thursday, followed by Malaysia from October 25–28, where he will attend the 47th ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit as a guest of the chair.
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Source:Africa Publicity
