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Minister Mumbengegwi

From Caesar Zvayi in JAKARTA, Indonesia—
Zimbabwe and Indonesia yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Joint Commission to enhance bilateral co-operation. The MoU was signed by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and his Indonesia counterpart Ms Retno Marsudi on the sidelines of the Asia-African Summit that ended here yesterday.

Briefing journalists after the signing ceremony, Minister Mumbengegwi said the MoU would help enhance the excellent ties between Harare and Jakarta.

‘‘This is a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a joint commission for bilateral co-operation between Zimbabwe and Indonesia.

“This is a very important document because it provides the overall framework within which we co-operate as two countries on a bilateral basis, whether it be in the political, economic, diplomatic, trade, or investment areas,” he said.

“It covers the whole range of areas of possible co-operation between our two countries; it will be our guiding document.’’

Minister Mumbengegwi revealed that Memoranda of Understanding have already been signed on agricultural co-operation, trade and investment.

‘‘These are areas that we intend to follow up,” he said.

“So far, not much trade has happened between our two countries, but we believe there is a great potential and we shall pursue that.’’

Zimbabwe, he said, could benefit from Indonesia’s technological equipment and ICT sectors, while Indonesia would benefit from exports of Zimbabwe’s tobacco and beef.

The MoU, which is another feather in the country’s progressive Look East policy, also covers the area of technological transfer.

‘‘Technology transfer, it’s all covered in the MoU we have just signed and definitely that is an area we are very much interested in, especially in the area of getting our people, our students to come and study here.

“We think we can be able to benefit tremendously,’’ he said.