Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, says that he has initiated discussions with several African countries to explore collaboration opportunities in the electric vehicle (EV) sector.
Speaking at the International Battery Summit 2024 in Jakarta, Luhut highlighted Africa’s interest in Indonesia’s capabilities in this industry.
“African countries view Indonesia as a key partner in advancing their EV sector,” Luhut said on Monday, July 29, 2024.
These discussions are set to progress further in a forum scheduled for September 2-3, 2024.
Luhut emphasized the significant market potential in Africa, with the continent’s population projected to double by 2045.
“This presents a massive market opportunity for EVs. Collaborative efforts can help address various challenges,” he said.
In addition to EVs, Luhut mentioned that the collaboration with African countries might extend to other areas such as electricity and oil.
Indonesia’s state-owned enterprises, oil and gas producer Pertamina and electricty generator PLN, are already exploring partnerships in these sectors with counterparts in Kenya and South Africa.
Furthermore, Luhut mentioned potential mineral cooperation with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly involving oil blocks and partnerships with Mozambique.
“Congo has offered opportunities to Pertamina for oil blocks, and there are discussions about collaboration in Mozambique,” he said.
