President Jokowi Makes First-ever Working Visit to Africa

Jakarta – The Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) headed to Africa on Sunday for working visit to four countries in the region. This becomes his first-ever visit to the Africa as President. 

"Along with a limited delegation, I'm leaving for Africa to visit Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa. This will be my first-ever presidential visit to the African region," the Head of State said in a video broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel on Sunday.

President Widodo stated that Indonesia and Africa have a long historical relationship, given the country was the pioneer and host for the Asian-African Conference that took place in Bandung, West Java, in 1955.

He reiterated that the international conference played a crucial role in the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement amid the tension during the Cold War.

"I will bring the spirit of Bandung during my visit to Africa to strengthen solidarity and cooperation among the Global South countries," President said. 

The Head of State then explained that his visit to Kenya and Tanzania would be a follow-up to the decision to establish their embassies in Jakarta last year.

The establishment of the two countries' embassies serves as proof that they are committed to further intensifying cooperation with Indonesia, President Jokowi added. 

Furthermore, he said that Mozambique is the first African country, with which Indonesia has inked a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).

As information, President Jokowi and his delegation have arrived Kenya and scheduled to meet with President of the Republic of Kenya William Ruto to hold a bilateral meeting to enhance cooperation between the two countries. 

After paying visits to the four countries, the president is scheduled to participate in the summit event of BRICS, an alliance comprising developing countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

He will also hold several bilateral meetings with a number of state leaders on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit that will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 22-24.

At the press conference, the president was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi has already left for Africa earlier. As information, the president and his delegation will return to Indonesia on August 25.