Indonesia wants South Africa to return the favour, after the South-East Asian country’s recent move to do away with Visa requirements for South Africans visiting the country.
The growing powerhouse of the Asian region has issued an investment call to South African businesses. It has encouraged South Africa to re-look at barriers that are currently hampering trade between the two countries.
In an attempt to attract South Africa’s attention, Indonesia has been battling to accelerate trade with South Africa.
The country is growing at 5%, with a population of over 200 million people, of whom less than 5% are unemployed. It wants South Africa to explore business opportunities between the two countries. It needs new investments if it is to achieve its new targets. It needs 250 000 additional hotel beds in a tourism sector that is growing by 20%. But Pretoria has not yet fully extended the hand of friendship.
Daniel Simanjuntak is the Director of African Affairs in Indonesia:
“With South Africa we will like to see more, Brazil has more trade with Indonesia but it’s far. We are not happy with SA trade.”
Indonesia has resolved to invest approximately 97 million US dollars in Africa. It also wants South Africa to address some of the trade barriers that currently exists between the two countries.
South Africa and Indonesia have had diplomatic ties for more than 20 years. However, business opportunities between the two countries have not been fully explored.
