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.