Deputy Foreign Minister Pahala Mansuri inaugurated the Zanzibar-Indonesia Investment Forum, themed “Navigating New Horizons in Blue Economy Cooperation,” on September 1, 2024. The forum was held alongside the second Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in Nusa Dua, Bali, and attended by Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, Minister of Labour, Economy, and Investment Sharif Ali Shariff, and over 100 business leaders and stakeholders from Indonesia, Zanzibar, and Tanzania. Pahala emphasized the historical ties between Indonesia and Africa, established during the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference, as the foundation for solidarity and cooperation among developing countries. He underscored the significant potential of Indonesia and the African region, with a combined GDP of approximately USD4.4 trillion and rich natural resources. Pahala highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation in strategic sectors, particularly the blue economy, which is crucial for island nations like Indonesia and Zanzibar. He presented Indonesia's Blue Economy Framework, aimed at sustainable marine resource management and improving community welfare. The potential for collaboration between Indonesia and Zanzibar spans various blue economy sectors, including tourism, hospitality, fisheries, port infrastructure development, seaweed processing, and the oil and gas industry.
President Mwinyi noted the shared characteristics of Zanzibar and Indonesia as island nations committed to maritime sector development and marine environmental conservation. He invited Indonesian businesses and investors to actively participate in developing Zanzibar's priority economic sectors. During the discussion session, Saleh Saad Mohamed, Executive Director of the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority, and Rovokatus A. Rashel, Director of Investment Facilitation at the Tanzania Investment Centre, outlined Zanzibar and Tanzania's potential as prime investment destinations in East Africa. They emphasized political stability, security, and legal certainty as key attractions for foreign investors. Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region off the East African coast, maintains political unity with Tanzania but has its own parliament and president. The Zanzibar-Indonesia Investment Forum serves as a crucial platform for strengthening economic ties and advancing blue economy cooperation.
