Gambia, Indonesia cement bilateral cooperation
The bilateral meeting presents an opportunity not only to review their achievements, but also to chart a new roadmap for cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture, education and research, tourism, diplomatic engagements, consular and migration governance, parliamentary cooperation, and other future areas of cooperation. Delegates discussed economic cooperation and development with the utilization of the Indonesian Agricultural Rural Farmers Training Center in Jenoi, the status of Indonesian-Gambian development cooperation, and proposal on preferential trade agreement between Indonesia and ECOWAS. The bilateral discussion also focused on the socio-cultural cooperation which touched on education, tourism and research and further potential areas for development. Speaking on behalf of the Gambia government, Ambassador Lang Yabou, permanent secretary 1 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, described the meeting as important milestone in their bilateral relations, which reflects the shared commitment of the two governments to deepen cooperation, strengthen friendship, and expand mutually beneficial partnership. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1982, he said, The Gambia and Indonesia have continued to enjoy long-standing friendly relations, founded on the principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality, solidarity among developing countries, South-South cooperation, peaceful coexistence, and shared commitment to multilateralism, development, and international peace and security. The Gambia remains particularly appreciative of Indonesia's long-standing support through technical cooperation programmes, scholarships, agricultural assistance, capacity-building initiatives, and human resource development programmes. He said that since their last consultations, both countries have maintained regular engagements, and have demonstrated a strong commitment to implementing agreed areas of cooperation. “The Gambia notes with satisfaction the successful implementation of the Agricultural Rural Farmer Training Centre project in Jenoi, Lower River Region, which remains one of the most visible symbols of Gambia-Indonesia cooperation,” Yabou said. He further commended Indonesia's continued contribution to international peace and security and social development, including through United Nations peacekeeping operations and South-South initiatives. He further assured of Gambia’s commitment to ensuring that thejoint commission produces practical and measurable outcomes that will benefit their people and contribute to sustainable development. Ms Dewi Justicia Meidiwaty, director of African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia,said the gathering came at a historic juncture in the forty-fourth year of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries, which were officially established on May 30, 1982. Over the decades, she said, the two nations have successfully cultivated an enduring partnership built upon shared values, mutual respect, and a steadfast adherence to the principles of sovereignty, equality, and non-interference. She noted that the second Joint Commission meeting marks a vital resurgence in their institutional framework, building upon the foundational framework established during the 1st JCBC. Since then, she stated: “Our bilateral engagements have yielded concrete benefits. In the realm of trade, our economic partnership has proven remarkably resilient. By 2025, our bilateral trade figures reached USD 61.1 million, driven substantially by Indonesian non-oil and gas exports such as palm oil, soap, and vehicles.” She said their shared goal during this SOM must be to explore ways to make this economic exchange more balanced, diversified, and integrated. “Beyond commerce, our bond is most vibrantly reflected in our long-standing technical and development cooperation. Indonesia takes immense pride in the Agricultural Rural Farmer Training Center (ARFTC) in Jenoi, which has stood as a flagship project of Indonesian South-South Cooperation in West Africa since 1998,” she said.
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The bilateral meeting presents an opportunity not only to review their achievements, but also to chart a new roadmap for cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture, education and research, tourism, diplomatic engagements, consular and migration governance, parliamentary cooperation, and other future areas of cooperation.
Delegates discussed economic cooperation and development with the utilization of the Indonesian Agricultural Rural Farmers Training Center in Jenoi, the status of Indonesian-Gambian development cooperation, and proposal on preferential trade agreement between Indonesia and ECOWAS.
The bilateral discussion also focused on the socio-cultural cooperation which touched on education, tourism and research and further potential areas for development.
Speaking on behalf of the Gambia government, Ambassador Lang Yabou, permanent secretary 1 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, described the meeting as important milestone in their bilateral relations, which reflects the shared commitment of the two governments to deepen cooperation, strengthen friendship, and expand mutually beneficial partnership.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1982, he said, The Gambia and Indonesia have continued to enjoy long-standing friendly relations, founded on the principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality, solidarity among developing countries, South-South cooperation, peaceful coexistence, and shared commitment to multilateralism, development, and international peace and security.
The Gambia remains particularly appreciative of Indonesia's long-standing support through technical cooperation programmes, scholarships, agricultural assistance, capacity-building initiatives, and human resource development programmes.
He said that since their last consultations, both countries have maintained regular engagements, and have demonstrated a strong commitment to implementing agreed areas of cooperation.
“The Gambia notes with satisfaction the successful implementation of the Agricultural Rural Farmer Training Centre project in Jenoi, Lower River Region, which remains one of the most visible symbols of Gambia-Indonesia cooperation,” Yabou said.
He further commended Indonesia's continued contribution to international peace and security and social development, including through United Nations peacekeeping operations and South-South initiatives.
He further assured of Gambia’s commitment to ensuring that thejoint commission produces practical and measurable outcomes that will benefit their people and contribute to sustainable development.
Ms Dewi Justicia Meidiwaty, director of African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia,said the gathering came at a historic juncture in the forty-fourth year of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries, which were officially established on May 30, 1982.
Over the decades, she said, the two nations have successfully cultivated an enduring partnership built upon shared values, mutual respect, and a steadfast adherence to the principles of sovereignty, equality, and non-interference.
She noted that the second Joint Commission meeting marks a vital resurgence in their institutional framework, building upon the foundational framework established during the 1st JCBC.
Since then, she stated: “Our bilateral engagements have yielded concrete benefits. In the realm of trade, our economic partnership has proven remarkably resilient. By 2025, our bilateral trade figures reached USD 61.1 million, driven substantially by Indonesian non-oil and gas exports such as palm oil, soap, and vehicles.”
She said their shared goal during this SOM must be to explore ways to make this economic exchange more balanced, diversified, and integrated.
“Beyond commerce, our bond is most vibrantly reflected in our long-standing technical and development cooperation. Indonesia takes immense pride in the Agricultural Rural Farmer Training Center (ARFTC) in Jenoi, which has stood as a flagship project of Indonesian South-South Cooperation in West Africa since 1998,” she said.
