“We also push forward for initiatives such as visa-free,so that it can further bring the people together and push the cooperation for people-to-people contacts in the future,” says Madam Dewi Justicia Meidiwaty, head of the Indonesian delegation at the FOC.
Regarding the trade and investment potentials of The Gambia and by extension West Africa, she says: “I think many Indonesians are still not aware of the potentials of West Africa including The Gambia, but I am sure as we move forward we can better understand the potentials of each other.”
According to The Gambia’s lead delegate to the FOC in Bali, Ambassador Lang Yabou, The Gambia and Indonesia should continue to encourage and facilitate deeper interaction among students, scholars, cultural institutions, business communities, media practitioners, youth groups, and civil society organisations from both countries. Such exchanges, he states sagely, will enhance mutual understanding, foster lasting friendship, and reinforce the societal foundations of enduring bilateral cooperation.
Mr Yabou, who is the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, says further: “The strength of our partnership also lies in the bonds between our peoples. We therefore encourage continued cultural cooperation through cultural festivals and art exchanges, youth development and internship programs, and language and cultural immersion initiatives, including showcasing Indonesian and Gambian cultures in each other’s capitals.”
He added: “The Gambia strongly believes that enhanced mobility, cultural understanding, and cross-cultural learning will contribute to the long-term health of our bilateral relations.”
Indonesia, with the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has in place sound economic policies that have continued to fuel the growth of the public and private sector to the benefit of the people of the country and its trade partners.
Thus, Indonesia continues to experience positive export growth across various products and services in the global market. This positive trade link will serve as an excellent opportunity for buyers, sellers, and investors to do business with Indonesian providers of export products and services.
