Indonesia Secures US$94.1 Million in Health Sector Investments at Indonesia-Africa Forum
Bali, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia has successfully secured investment agreements worth US$94.1 million in the health sector at the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF MSP) and the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) Joint Leaders Session 2024. These agreements were formalized through a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Indonesia and several African countries, as announced by Dewi Justicia Meidiwaty, Director of Africa at the Directorate General of Asia Pacific, and Africa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Monday.
The African nations involved in these strategic collaborations include Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, and Namibia. The partnerships mark a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties between Indonesia and Africa, particularly in the health sector, and reflect the enduring commitment to the Bandung Spirit, which emphasizes solidarity and cooperation among Asian and African countries.
Several prominent Indonesian companies played a key role in these collaborations, including PT Bio Farma, Bio Farma Group, Dexa Medica, Triton, and PT Pertiwi Agung (Mensa Group).
PT Bio Farma, a state-owned pharmaceutical company, has established strategic partnerships with Zimbabwe and Ghana. An MoU has been signed with Natpharm Zimbabwe, focusing on the registration, distribution, and marketing of pharmaceutical products. In Ghana, Bio Farma has agreed to conduct technology transfer with Atlantic Life Sciences, which includes training Ghanaian staff in Bandung and facilitating bulk shipments of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).
Further expanding its influence in Africa, Bio Farma Group has entered into a master agreement for technology transfer collaboration with the Kenya Biovax Institute. In Nigeria, Bio Farma is collaborating on the purchase of Td (Diphtheria and Tetanus) and measles vaccines by the Nigerian government, along with technology transfer for vaccine production with BVNL Nigeria. Additionally, a sales agreement has been signed with Uganda to market pharmaceutical products, with sales expected to commence between 2026 and 2027.
PT Dexa Medica, another key player, began exporting pharmaceutical products to Tanzania in 2023, with projections indicating an export value of US$2.5 to US$3.0 million over the next three years.
In South Africa, PT Triton Manufactures has signed an agreement for syringe procurement, while PT Pertiwi Agung (Mensa Group) has secured an agreement with Namibia for the purchase of instant energy drinks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that these collaborations are rooted in the Bandung Spirit, reflecting the ongoing efforts by Indonesia and African nations to strengthen bilateral relations across various sectors, with a particular focus on health. This latest achievement underscores Indonesia’s growing role in fostering international partnerships that are mutually beneficial and aligned with the shared values of solidarity and cooperation.
