Parliamentary Forum to boost South-South cooperation 

THE Second Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Forum in Bali, Indonesia, will explore and enhance strategic cooperation between the Southeast Asian country and Africa within the context of the continent’s Agenda 2063, the Parliament of Zimbabwe has said.

Running under the theme “Forging Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Partnership for Development”, the two-day event is a follow-up to the first Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Forum convened in 2018.

It is also being held on the margins of the Africa-Indonesia Summit, which is starting today and runs up to Tuesday.

Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda, who is expected to deliver a keynote address today, was accompanied by chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade Webster Shamu, as well as National Assembly members Ms Sithabisiwe Moyo and Mr Brian Mudumi.

In a statement yesterday, the Parliament of Zimbabwe said the forum is expected to deepen relations between Africa and Indonesia from a parliamentary perspective.

“The Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Forum is expected to further galvanise the relations between Africa and Indonesia from a parliamentary perspective, serving as a timeless reminder of the historical experiences and attendant aspirations towards self-determination, social justice and sustainable economic development,” said the Parliament of Zimbabwe.

“The event has drawn over 150 participants from 21 African countries, including 10 speakers, seven deputy speakers, as well as 100 Indonesian Members of Parliament, who are expected to share best parliamentary practices.”

The statement said Advocate Mudenda, who is also the current chairperson of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), is expected to underscore the relationship between Africa and Indonesia.

“Speaker Mudenda is expected to accentuate the win-win relationship that exists between Africa and Indonesia in advancing strategic South-South cooperation and sustainable economic growth, which is anchored on the fulcrum of the United Nations’ 16 sustainable development goals.”