Indonesia Leader Advances Partnership With Liberia In Key Sectors  

By E. Chiedi Nyenmoh

  Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, has expressed interest in advancing a partnership with Liberia that will lead to investment in key areas including palm oil production, capacity and infrastructural development, technical support, training, and scholarship initiatives.

Making remarks at the Indonesia-Africa Forum on Monday, September 2, 2024, held at the Mulia Conference Center in Bali, Indonesia, President Widodo admonished Liberia to join the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOC), and to be a part of the South-South Tropical Forest Collaboration currently comprised of eight countries to leverage Liberia’s huge forest reserve.

According to a dispatch from the Liberia Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Indonesian leader further expressed partnership interest with Liberia in the importation of rice to stabilize and reduce price of rice while working on Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements to boost local rice production and support the value chain in the rice sector.

The Indonesian Leader also invited Liberia to participate in the 68^th Anniversary of the Asian-African Conference (AAC) that is expected to take place in 2025.

For his part, the Liberian Leader expressed gratitude for the kind invitation to participate in the 2^nd Indonesia-Africa Forum and to further solidify the friendly relations between the two nations.

President Boakai conveyed his appreciation for the warm reception and courtesies extended to him and his delegation since their arrival in Bali.

The two leaders reflected on the high point in their countries' relations in 2013, marked by mutual visits and the establishment of a Joint Commission to enhance cooperation and trade.

President Boakai also acknowledged Indonesia's significant contribution to Liberia's peace and stability during the civil conflict, particularly through participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission and private sector investment.

The Liberian leader also made an appeal to Indonesia for continued support from their government to overcome challenges faced by Indonesian companies operating in Liberia.

He made specific reference to the need for Indonesia to back the expansion of the Golden Veroluem Limited (GVL), an Indonesian company operating in the oil palm industry in Liberia for further advancements, particularly the establishment of a palm oil refinery to ensure value addition.

President Boakai expressed his commitment to bolstering relations and proposed the exchange of Resident Ambassadors between the two countries, as well as the revitalization of the Joint Commission.

He further extended an invitation to President Widodo to visit Liberia so as to bolster initiatives towards increased collaboration in various fields.