Indonesia and Zimbabwe Mark Four Decades of Friendship

Harare– Indonesia celebrated its 81st Independence Anniversary on Thursday evening with a reception that also marked a major milestone in its relations with Zimbabwe: 40 years of diplomatic ties.

Hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, the event was graced by the Director for Africa, Asia and the Pacific in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr M.S. Dube, as Guest of Honour, together with senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, members of the media and friends of Indonesia.

In his address, the Indonesian Ambassador expressed sincere appreciation to all guests, noting that this year’s celebration was doubly significant.

“Forty years is not just a number. It represents four decades of friendship, mutual respect, dialogue and cooperation between our two countries and our two peoples,” he said.

To mark the anniversary, the Ambassador conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia to the Government and people of Zimbabwe, followed by a special video message from the Indonesian Foreign Minister. The message highlighted the meaningful progress achieved in 2026 and outlined a shared vision for the future.

The Ambassador highlighted five practical steps taken this year to deepen bilateral cooperation:

1. From Trade to Investment Partnership*
Earlier this year, the Embassy participated in the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) with Indonesian companies, supported by the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in Johannesburg. The aim, he said, goes beyond promoting trade, and seeks to encourage Indonesian companies to establish production and processing operations in Zimbabwe to create investment, jobs, technology transfer and shared value.

2. Connecting Business Communities*
To strengthen business-to-business links, the Embassy has proposed closer collaboration between ZITF and Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI). ZimTrade and Zimbabwean business representatives are expected to participate in TEI in Indonesia this October to explore concrete opportunities for partnership and joint ventures.

3. Institutionalising Cooperation*
In June 2026, the two countries held their first Foreign Office Consultation (FOC), establishing a formal platform to review relations and follow up on agreements. A key outcome was the agreement to elevate the mechanism into a Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), which is expected to convene before the end of the year.

4. Sharing Experience in Mining*
The Embassy has facilitated visits by Zimbabwean technical delegations to Indonesia to support the development of Zimbabwe’s mining industry. “Cooperation is not about one country teaching another. It is about sharing experience, learning from each other, and finding solutions that are appropriate to each country’s own circumstances,” the Ambassador said.

5. Building Long-Term Capacity in Livestock*
Cooperation in the livestock sector continues through training in artificial insemination. Running for more than two years, the programme is progressing towards a Training of Trainers model and ultimately the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Insemination in Zimbabwe.

“These activities may sound like a list of programmes and meetings. But for me, they represent something much more important,” the Ambassador noted. “They show that Indonesia and Zimbabwe share the same spirit and vision: to work together, to support each other’s development, and to build partnerships based on mutual benefit and mutual respect.”

He emphasised that Indonesia seeks to be a reliable and constructive partner in Zimbabwe’s economic development.

The evening also celebrated people-to-people ties with a joint cultural performance by Indonesian and Zimbabwean artists, blending musical instruments and traditions from both countries.

“Different instruments may have different sounds, and our artistic traditions may come from different histories, but they can still create harmony when they are played together. I think this is also a beautiful symbol of our relationship,” the Ambassador said, thanking the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture of Indonesia for supporting the delegation.

Speaking as Guest of Honour, Mr M.S. Dube said the two nations stand shoulder to shoulder in their commitment to a fair international order, rooted in multilateralism and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

“As a proactive advocate for African solutions to African and global challenges, Zimbabwe continues to lobby for reformed multilateral systems, including the United Nations Security Council, to make them more accountable, democratic, representative and equitable,” he said.

“In this context, the Government of Zimbabwe expresses its profound appreciation to the Government of Indonesia for its critical support of Zimbabwe’s election to a Non-Permanent Seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-28 term,” Mr Dube added.

He noted that tobacco remains Zimbabwe’s largest export to Indonesia and encouraged Indonesian businesses to explore partnerships with Zimbabwean farmers, processors and manufacturers to strengthen cooperation in value addition and processing.