Namibia gateway for Indonesian exports
JAKARTA (JP): Visiting Namibian President Sam Nujoma has suggested his country be used as a gateway for Indonesian exports to Africa.
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, who revealed the content of talks between President Soeharto and Nujoma at Merdeka Palace yesterday, said the offer was of interest to Jakarta.
Nujoma is in Indonesia for a three-day official visit.
Namibia, as a member of the South Africa Development Economic Cooperation (SADEC) forum, receives various trade favors from Latin American countries and the European Union, Moerdiono said.
"Indonesia gives serious attention to this offer because we can penetrate African markets and, maybe, indirectly also get to the European Union market and Latin American countries," he said.
The two leaders held 90-minute talks and discussed bilateral and international issues, including the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM).
As a member of the 113-strong member movement, Nujoma proposed the establishment of a permanent secretariat in order to strengthen the movement.
"The President gives attention to this proposal but of course it is up to the members to decide," Moerdiono said.
The next NAM summit will be held in Pretoria in September next year.
When Indonesia hosted the NAM summit in Jakarta in 1992, it openly opposed the idea, citing that by having a permanent secretariat NAM would become an organization rather than a movement.
Separately, ministers of the two countries held parallel talks at the Ladies' Saloon of Merdeka Palace. Indonesia was represented by Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, Minister of Industry and Trade Tungky Ariwibowo and Moerdiono. Namibia was represented by Foreign Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab and Minister of Trade and Industry Hidipo Hamutenya.
Alatas and his counterpart Gurirab signed an agreement to set up a joint commission in economic and technical cooperation.
Soeharto hosted a banquet last night to honor Nujoma and his wife Theopoldine Kovambo Nujoma. In his pre-dinner speech, Soeharto recalled how Indonesia consistently supported the Namibian people's struggle, led by Nujoma, for independence.
"We supported your struggle under the SWAPO (South West Africa People's Organization), and we sent our best soldiers to supervise the election after you gained your independence in 1990," Soeharto said.
This morning Nujoma and his entourage will visit state-owned palm oil plantation PTP IV in Pabatu and Lake Toba in North Sumatra, and stay overnight.
Tomorrow he will fly to Bali, before returning home on Monday night. (prb)