Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is exploring bilateral cooperation with Gabon in rare earth minerals, Indonesian Ambassador to Cameroon Agung Cahaya Sumirat said.
The Indonesian Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon, also oversees Indonesia's diplomatic relations with Gabon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic.
"We have a highly strategic interest in forging a partnership with Gabon. This is an ongoing process as we actively explore avenues for cooperation in rare earth minerals," Sumirat said on Tuesday (October 13).
In addition, the ambassador said Indonesia was exploring potential cooperation with the Republic of the Congo in the phosphate sector.
As technical and diplomatic consultations are still underway, Sumirat did not provide specific details on the potential timeline or scope of agreements with the two African nations.
He noted that Indonesia's resource cooperation with Central African countries had historically centered on hydrocarbons.
Gabon and Angola, along with Nigeria in West Africa, are among Indonesia's leading crude oil suppliers on the African continent.
Beyond commodity procurement, Indonesia has established a strategic presence in Gabon's upstream energy sector through foreign direct investment.
PT Pertamina Internasional Eksplorasi dan Produksi (PIEP), the overseas upstream subsidiary of Indonesian state-owned energy company PT Pertamina, holds a controlling stake of more than 70 percent in French oil and gas company Maurel & Prom, which operates producing assets in Gabon, Angola, and Tanzania.
"This is a primary driver behind our interest in deepening broader bilateral ties with Gabon," Sumirat said.
According to Indonesian Ministry of Trade data for January–August 2026, Indonesia recorded a US$411.3 million trade deficit with Gabon, importing US$422.7 million worth of goods while exporting US$11.4 million.
During the same eight-month period, Indonesia recorded a trade deficit of US$1.09 billion with Angola, with imports totaling US$1.18 billion against exports of US$94.1 million.
By contrast, Indonesia posted a US$104.3 million trade surplus with the Republic of the Congo, exporting US$106.9 million worth of goods while importing US$2.6 million.
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Translator: Uyu Septiyati Liman
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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