Triangular Cooperation Training on Trade and Investment Promotion as the First Collaboration between JICA and Government of Indonesia for African Countries under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC)

On July 8, 2025, the opening ceremony of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Training on “Trade and Investment Promotion for African Countries” has been held in the training venue in Center for Human Resources Development for Export and Trade Services (PPEJP, Jakarta). This training is conducted by the collaboration between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Ministry of State Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia, the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia　and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The ceremony was attended by Ms. Dyah Roro Esti the Vice Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Setya Utama the Secretary of Ministry of State Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia, Ms. Takeda Sachiko the Chief Representative of JICA Indonesia Office and others.

This training is the first training to embody the collaboration between the two countries in the project “Capacity Development in the African Region through Japan and Indonesia Partnership” which was launched as the first collaboration of JICA and Government of Indonesia under Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed by JICA and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia at the Indonesia Africa Forum in September 2024.

Importantly, the Ministry of State Secretariat, alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as key member of the National Coordination Team (NCT), plays a crucial coordinating role in ensuring Indonesia’s SSTC efforts are inclusive, well-aligned with national priorities, and effectively implemented in partnership with development partners like JICA.

The project aims to enhance the capacity of African countries in the four target areas specified in the MoC (health, energy, trade, and food security) and to narrow the development gap between African countries. Specifically, the project aims to strengthen and improve the capacity of target country government officials and institutions in the target areas, and to amplify the impact of projects and activities already underway in the African target countries through cooperation under this framework.

The training which will focus on trade amongst other target areas, will be conducted from 7-20 July 2025 at the PPEJP in Jakarta and will involve twelve (12) participants from seven (7) African countries (Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Tunisia), and two (2) participants from Indonesian government. Aside from the participants, there are 3 observers invited from African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA NEPAD) and Africa Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA). JICA has supported the establishment of Indonesia Export Training Centre (IETC), the former name of PPEJP, through ODA grants and technical cooperation projects, starting from 1986 for more than 20 years.

The training provides participants with comprehensive insights into the issues, challenges, opportunities, and best practices in trade and investment promotion, particularly based on the experiences of Indonesia and Japan, as well as to offer a platform for participants to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and build cooperation networks in trade and investment promotion between Indonesia and African countries, as well as among African countries themselves. In addition, participants gain first-hand knowledge of trade promotion strategies and investment facilitation services through site visits to industrial factory, trade technical institutions, and one-stop investment service center, which thus provides practical examples for application in their home countries. The training is designed comprehensively by including not only theoretical lectures but also practical sessions in the field. The participants also required to present the action plan upon completion of the training and are expected to apply the best practices learnt during the training to enhance their ability to prominently lead the trade and investment promotion sector in their countries.

In his opening speech, Mr. Setya Utama stated that as a founding member of ASEAN and a long-time implementer of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), Indonesia’s experience in promoting trade and investment can offer relevant insights for our African partners. He also emphasized that this program is not just about transfer of knowledge, but about building lasting partnerships in accordance with the spirit of the Asia Africa Conference pioneered by Indonesia in 1955.

“I believe, through this training course, all the participants can acquire knowledge and skills effectively for promoting the trade and investment in their respective countries, among African countries, and between other regions. Year 2025 marks the 70^th Anniversary of Asia-Africa Conference (Bandung Conference). The spirit of Bandung Conference plays a pivotal role to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation for mutual benefit within Global South until today”, said Takeda Sachiko, the Chief Representative of JICA Indonesia during her remarks.

Ms. Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, the Vice Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, also highlighted that “this training program serves as a strategic platform to foster institutional linkages, enhance trade and investment capacity, and contribute to a more inclusive and resilient economic partnership among developing nations”. She emphasized that this training can be an opportunity to explore Indonesia-Africa relations. Not only the trade aspect, but also human relations, such as language and culture. She also officially opened the training after delivering her remarks.

The results of this training will be presented at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9), scheduled to be held in Yokohama from 20-22 August 2025, where the next phase of cooperation between JICA and the Government of Indonesia to further promote collaboration in Africa cooperation will be explored.