KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia and Somalia have agreed to deepen bilateral ties through concrete cooperation in trade, agriculture, maritime, and education, following a historic visit by Somalia’s Foreign Minister to Jakarta on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

This commitment marked the key outcome of the official visit of the Foreign Affairs Minister and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Abdisalam Abdi Ali, to Jakarta. It was the first-ever visit by a Somali Foreign Affairs Minister to Indonesia.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono welcomed the visit as a sign of the two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening solidarity among Global South countries. “Amid current geopolitical challenges, the Indonesia–Somalia partnership is increasingly relevant. We both strive for a fair and inclusive global order based on mutual respect,” said Minister Sugiono, as quoted by kemlu.go.id.

The meeting also highlighted growing opportunities for economic collaboration, especially with Somalia’s recent accession to the East African Community (EAC). “We see Somalia as a key partner in Sub-Saharan Africa and hope it can serve as a hub for Indonesian products in the region,” he added.

On technical cooperation, Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Somalia through capacity-building initiatives, particularly in fisheries, aquaculture, agriculture and meat processing, and health. One example is Indonesia’s contribution to the development of an Intensive Care Unit at East Africa University Hospital in Bosaso, under a trilateral partnership with Indonesian Aid and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

In the education sector, Minister Sugiono encouraged Somalia to take advantage of various Indonesian scholarship programs, including the Developing Countries Partnership (KNB), Darmasiswa, and The Indonesia Aid Scholarship (TIAS). He also expressed interest in expanding cooperation through diplomatic training for Somali diplomats.

As two Muslim-majority nations, Indonesia and Somalia also pledged to promote moderation and peace in the Islamic world, including through collaboration in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other multilateral platforms. “Indonesia is ready to be Somalia’s trusted partner, building a shared future as part of the collective voice of developing nations,” he explained.

Following the bilateral meeting, the two foreign ministers signed a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports, a first step toward strengthening people-to-people connectivity.

Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Somalia were formally established on December 21, 1960. Both countries are active members of the Non-Aligned Movement and collaborate closely within the OIC.

In recent years, development cooperation between the two countries has continued to grow, reflecting South-South solidarity through health projects, technical training, and educational programs. ***