Indonesia has successfully secured investment agreements in the health sector worth US$94.1 million (approximately Rp1.46 trillion) at the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF MSP) and the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) Joint Leaders Session 2024. 

“This agreement was formalized through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Indonesia and several African nations, including Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, and Namibia,” stated Dewi Justicia Meidiwaty, Director for Africa at the Directorate General of Asia, Pacific, and Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Monday (September 2). 

Several leading Indonesian companies are involved in these partnerships, including PT Biofarma, Biofarma Group, Dexa Medica, Triton, and PT Pertiwi Agung (Mensa Group). 

Specifically, PT Bio Farma (Persero) is engaged in strategic collaborations with Zimbabwe and Ghana. In Zimbabwe, Biofarma signed an MoU with Natpharm Zimbabwe focusing on product registration, distribution, and marketing of pharmaceutical products. 

Additionally, Biofarma will conduct technology transfer with Atlantic Life Sciences, which includes training staff from Ghana in Bandung and supplying bulk Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API). 

Through Biofarma Group, Indonesia is expanding its collaborations with Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. In Kenya, they have signed a Master Agreement for technology transfer collaboration with the Kenya Biovax Institute. 

In Nigeria, Biofarma Group has established agreements for the purchase of Td and measles vaccines by the Nigerian government and the transfer of vaccine production technology with BVNL Nigeria. In Uganda, a Sales Agreement has been signed for the marketing of pharmaceutical products, with sales expected to commence in 2026 or 2027. 

Furthermore, PT Dexa Medica initiated its first export of pharmaceutical products to Tanzania in 2023, with projected export values ranging from $2.5 to 3 million (Rp 38.8 - 46.7 billion) over the next three years. 

On another front, PT Triton Manufactures is involved in supplying syringes to South Africa, while PT Pertiwi Agung (Mensa Group) has secured a deal to sell instant energy drinks in Namibia. 

Indonesia plans to reach business deals worth $3.5 billion with African countries as it hosts the second Indonesia-Africa Forum in Bali. The forum, which runs until September 3, was aimed at enhancing economic cooperation as Indonesia seeks to expand its export market. 

"The partnership between Indonesia and Africa so far has significantly increased trade volumes and trade agreements," President Joko Widodo said during his opening speech for the forum on Monday, as quoted by Reuters. 

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This article is published in cooperation with Katadata