Namibia gateway for Indonesian exports<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Visiting Namibian President Sam Nujoma has
\nsuggested his country be used as a gateway for Indonesian exports
\nto Africa.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono, who revealed the content
\nof talks between President Soeharto and Nujoma at Merdeka Palace
\nyesterday, said the offer was of interest to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Nujoma is in Indonesia for a three-day official visit.<\/p>\n
Namibia, as a member of the South Africa Development Economic
\nCooperation (SADEC) forum, receives various trade favors from
\nLatin American countries and the European Union, Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia gives serious attention to this offer because we
\ncan penetrate African markets and, maybe, indirectly also get to
\nthe European Union market and Latin American countries,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The two leaders held 90-minute talks and discussed bilateral
\nand international issues, including the Non-Alignment Movement
\n(NAM).<\/p>\n
As a member of the 113-strong member movement, Nujoma proposed
\nthe establishment of a permanent secretariat in order to
\nstrengthen the movement.<\/p>\n
\"The President gives attention to this proposal but of course
\nit is up to the members to decide,\" Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
The next NAM summit will be held in Pretoria in September next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
When Indonesia hosted the NAM summit in Jakarta in 1992, it
\nopenly opposed the idea, citing that by having a permanent
\nsecretariat NAM would become an organization rather than a
\nmovement.<\/p>\n
Separately, ministers of the two countries held parallel talks
\nat the Ladies' Saloon of Merdeka Palace. Indonesia was
\nrepresented by Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, Minister of Industry
\nand Trade Tungky Ariwibowo and Moerdiono. Namibia was represented
\nby Foreign Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab and Minister of Trade and
\nIndustry Hidipo Hamutenya.<\/p>\n
Alatas and his counterpart Gurirab signed an agreement to set
\nup a joint commission in economic and technical cooperation.<\/p>\n
Soeharto hosted a banquet last night to honor Nujoma and his
\nwife Theopoldine Kovambo Nujoma. In his pre-dinner speech,
\nSoeharto recalled how Indonesia consistently supported the
\nNamibian people's struggle, led by Nujoma, for independence.<\/p>\n
\"We supported your struggle under the SWAPO (South West Africa
\nPeople's Organization), and we sent our best soldiers to
\nsupervise the election after you gained your independence in
\n1990,\" Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
This morning Nujoma and his entourage will visit state-owned
\npalm oil plantation PTP IV in Pabatu and Lake Toba in North
\nSumatra, and stay overnight.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow he will fly to Bali, before returning home on Monday
\nnight. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/namibia-gateway-for-indonesian-exports-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}