Indonesia-Africa Boosts Partnership Through 2026 SSTC Training

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Trade is fostering stronger trade and investment partnerships with African countries. This partnership enhancement is being carried out by building human resource (HR) capacity that is adaptive to shifting global trade landscapes, including supply chain restructuring, digitalization, and sustainability issues.

This was conveyed by the Head of the Trade Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDMP) of the Ministry of Trade, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, during the opening of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) on Trade and Investment Promotion for African Countries 2026 at the Center for Export and Trade Service Human Resources Development (PPEJP) in Jakarta on Monday, September 28, 2026. He emphasized that Indonesia is ready to share its experience.

"The changing landscape of global trade demands that countries possess strong institutions as well as competent and adaptive human resources. Indonesia is ready to share its experience in trade promotion, export development, trade facilitation, digital commerce, the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and trade human resource development," Djatmiko stated, as quoted in a written press release.

According to him, through SSTC, Indonesia is building an equal partnership by sharing experience and knowledge in the trade sector. The program also serves as a two-way learning space for Indonesia, Japan, and African countries, while opening up opportunities for broader cooperation development.

The SSTC on Trade and Investment Promotion for African Countries 2026 marks the second iteration following the inaugural program in 2025. Building upon the achievements and lessons learned from the previous implementation, this year's program focuses on East African nations.

Djatmiko noted that Indonesia's experience in ASEAN economic integration can serve as a reference for African countries amid the strengthening of economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This experience demonstrates that regional economic integration requires more than just agreements; it also calls for robust institutions, effective trade facilitation, competitive business actors, supportive investment policies, and well-qualified human resources.

"This program must not stop within the training room. The measure of its success lies in how the acquired knowledge can be translated into stronger institutional networks, sustainable knowledge exchange, advanced technical cooperation, and tangible, measurable results through the participants' action plans," Djatmiko said.

The training program, running from September 27 to October 8, 2026, in Jakarta, is attended by 14 participants from six African countries—Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Sudan, Somalia, and Rwanda—along with two observers from the East African Community (EAC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat.

The program combines theoretical and practical learning on trade and investment, covering international trade agreements and negotiations, ASEAN economic cooperation, export promotion, SME development, digital marketing, investment policies, and business licensing.

Participants are also scheduled to visit Indofood company, the Ministry of Trade's Permanent Trade Exhibition, the ASEAN Secretariat, ERIA, and the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming to gain practical insights into trade promotion, regional cooperation, investment facilitation, and MSME development.

At the end of the training, each participant will formulate and present an action plan to implement the knowledge and practices acquired according to their respective country's needs.