As Rwanda gears up for the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) scheduled for September 3-4, 2024, in Bali, the country’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Sheikh Abdul Karim Harerimana, emphasized the significance of this event for both Rwanda and other participating African nations.
“This forum will be immensely beneficial not only to Rwanda and Indonesia but also to the broader African continent,” Ambassador Harerimana noted during an interview with Antara on August 22.
Rwanda’s participation, led by President Paul Kagame, follows an invitation extended by the Indonesian government in June 2024. Ambassador Harerimana expressed Rwanda’s readiness to engage fully in discussions centered around the forum’s theme, “Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2063.” He highlighted the deepening cooperation between Indonesia and Rwanda as part of the Global South, stressing the importance of such collaborations in addressing shared challenges.
“The relationship between Indonesia and Rwanda has long-standing roots, even before the establishment of our embassy in Jakarta,” Harerimana explained. He expressed optimism that the forum would help bridge existing gaps in bilateral relations and enhance cooperation.
Ambassador Harerimana pointed out that the forum provides an opportunity to tackle critical issues affecting developing countries, including trade imbalances and environmental degradation. He criticized the Global North for exploiting raw materials from the Global South at low prices, only to resell the processed goods at much higher rates. Additionally, he raised concerns about the environmental damage caused by industries in developed countries, which disproportionately affects the entire world.
“The Global South must recognize that solutions to these challenges lie within our own capabilities. The 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum presents an opportunity to address these issues collaboratively,” he stated.
The forum will focus on key areas of cooperation, including economic transformation, energy, mining, food security, health, and development. Concrete outcomes are anticipated in the form of agreements between governments (G-to-G), government and businesses (G-to-B), and businesses (B-to-B). Additionally, the forum aims to contribute to the Grand Design for Indonesia’s development with Africa, including through triangular cooperation with third countries.
As Rwanda prepares to participate in this pivotal event, expectations are high that the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum will strengthen ties between Indonesia and African nations and pave the way for future collaborations that align with Africa’s Agenda 2063.
