The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia, HE Retno L. P. Marsudi, and the Foreign Minister of Fiji, Hon. Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, had their first official bilateral meeting in Nadi, Fiji on 1st March 2015.
Minister Retno Marsudi's first official bilateral visit to Fiji underlines the special bilateral relationship of the two countries having Melanesian cultural background and heritage. The visit to Fiji also reflects Indonesia’s renewed commitment to strengthen cooperation, relations and contribution to the development of countries in the Pacific based on mutual benefit and mutual respect on territorial integrity as of strategic importance.
The two Ministers discussed efforts to enhance economic cooperation and people-to-people contact particularly through capacity building and technical assistance. They also discussed the possibility of holding the first Joint Ministerial Commission in August 2015.
The two Ministers stressed there are still great untapped potentials in the area of trade between Fiji and Indonesia which reached US$ 26.2 million. In this context, they agreed to intensify investment and trade cooperation in the area of fisheries and agriculture processing and marketing cooperation of individual countries’ national products.
In the area of people-to-people contact, the two Ministers welcome the various capacity building and technical cooperation programs that have been undertaken. It was noted that as of 2014, 13 capacity building programs have been undertaken in areas such as education, fisheries, agriculture, women empowerment, disaster management and democratization.
The two Ministers also agreed to have greater cooperation in relation to UN peacekeeping forces of both countries. In this context, Minister Retno Marsudi welcomes the intention of Fiji’s Peacekeepers to participate in the peacekeeping training center in Indonesia.
As part of the realisation of Indonesia’s commitment to the US$ 20 million capacity building program for MSGs countries, both Ministers agreed that a technical team will meet this year to further discuss areas in which capacity building program can be directed so as to best contribute to the development of Fiji. The Foreign Minister of Indonesia also presented to the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Hon Rosy Sofia Akbar a scallop-shell processing machine and a module for the training of SMEs in making seashell-based jewellery to be conducted later this year in Fiji.
On regional issues, the two Ministers agreed that as part of Indonesia’s greater engagement in Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), they would intensify communication on issues relating to the MSG. The two Ministers will also promote regular consultations, contacts and exchange of visits between Indonesia and MSG Members.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia invited the Foreign Minister of Fiji to attend the 60th Commemoration of Asian-African Conference and the 10th Anniversary of the new Asian-African Strategic Partnership in Jakarta and Bandung on 19-24 April 2015.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to her and the delegation of Indonesia during their visit to Nadi.