Nigeria-Indonesia Relations

Nigeria-Indonesia Relations

Relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Indonesia date back to 1965 when Indonesia opened its resident Diplomatic Mission in Lagos, and Nigeria reciprocated in 1976 by opening her Mission in Jakarta.

The relationship, over the years, can be described as warm, friendly and cordial, based on mutual respect and understanding. Both countries share common views and interests at various international fora.

In 2001, former President Abdurrahman Wahid visited Nigeria, during which a Memorandum of Understanding on trade was signed between the two Presidents to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

In May 2001, President Olusegun Obasanjo attended the Summit of G-15 countries and held useful bilateral discussions with his Indonesian counterpart. Presently, both countries have exchanged draft Agreements on Trade, Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments and setting up of a Joint Commission to work toward the signing of these agreements in the very near future to give formal expression to the growing economic, trade and investment between the two countries.

In April 2005, President Olusegun Obasanjo, attended the Asian African Summit and held bilateral talks with President, Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, where the two leaders agreed to work towards increasing greater economic trade and investment between the two countries in the spirit of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership.

Just recently, Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Aviation and Garuda, the Indonesian state-owned airline company signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in connection with the construction and maintenance of an aircraft maintenance hangar in Nigeria to be entirely financed by the private sector.

Over the years, Indonesia has been a major supplier of textiles, garments and children's wear for the Nigerian market.

Other items like detergents, pharmaceuticals, electronics, household goods, automobile spare parts and furniture. Some of these items have become household names in Nigeria. On the other hand, Indonesia imports mainly petroleum products and natural gas from Nigeria. It is, however, expected that Indonesia would diversify her imports in the future, particularly in the area of agricultural products.

The mission continues to receive an increasing number of trade enquiries from the business community, which no doubt confirms the growing interest in the Nigerian economy, in line with her new status as a new investment frontier.