TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with Global South countries through a training program titled South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) on Trade and Investment Promotion for African Countries. The training was opened by Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Export Human Resources Development and Trade Services Center (PPEJP) in Jakarta."We believe that the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) is more than just technical involvement. It is a principled effort based on mutual respect, shared ownership, and a vision to reduce inequality and promote sustainable prosperity," said Roro, through a press release received by Tempo on Wednesday, July 9.She emphasized the importance of inclusive dialogue, knowledge exchange, and practical collaboration in trade and investment. We hope that the training will contribute to strong partnerships and inclusive growth by building capacity.Indonesia-Africa Trade IncreasesAccording to data from the Ministry of Trade, in 2024, Indonesia's trade with Africa reached US$2.4 billion, marking a 7.4 percent increase from the previous year. Indonesia's main exports to Africa include palm oil, machinery, vehicles, and rubber products. Meanwhile, Indonesia's main imports from Africa include ferro-alloys, chromium and manganese ores, aluminum, sugar, and iron ores.Roro also mentioned the Indonesia-Mozambique Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which has been in effect since 2022. This agreement offers reduced tariffs for exports such as palm oil, pharmaceuticals, paper, and automotive spare parts. Meanwhile, the Indonesia-Tunisia Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which is expected to be signed at the end of this year, is hoped to open new opportunities in the textile, agricultural, and machinery sectors.Multilateral Partnership ResultsThis training is the result of the first collaboration between Indonesia and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Memorandum of Cooperation signed at the 2024 Indonesia-Africa Forum. This program aims to enhance the capacity of African countries in the fields of health, energy, trade, and food security.Secretary of the Ministry of State Secretariat Setya Utama stated, "This training is not just about knowledge transfer, but about building sustainable partnerships. This also aligns with the spirit of the Asia-Africa Conference initiated by Indonesia in 1955."Head of JICA Representative Office, Takeda Sachiko, added that this year marks the first collaboration between JICA and the Indonesian government regarding African countries, established through a memorandum of cooperation. She highlighted the spirit of the Bandung Conference, which strengthened solidarity among South-South countries.The training, which runs until July 19, has 12 participants from seven African countries and three observers from African regional institutions. Participants receive theoretical lectures, field practices, and visits to trade institutions. They will also present their respective action plans and visit Taman Mini Indonesia Indah as part of a cultural exchange.The training results will be presented at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9) in August. The Indonesian government and JICA will also explore further cooperation for Africa.Editor's Choice: Indonesia Prepares These Two Strategies to Counter U.S. Import TariffsClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News