Minister of State for International Cooperation, Henry Oryem Okello, represented President Yoweri Museveni at the Second Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in Bali, Indonesia, from 1-3 September 2024, where he hailed the strong bilateral relations between Uganda and Indonesia, as well as with Africa as a whole.
Speaking on behalf of President Museveni, who chairs the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Okello reflected on the 1955 Bandung Conference, which laid the foundation for the 10 Bandung principles that have shaped the NAM's mission of peace. He noted, however, that while NAM has made remarkable progress, fostering economic prosperity and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain significant challenges.
Highlighting Uganda’s and Africa’s collaboration with Indonesia, Okello emphasized the importance of harnessing the potential of the youth in the global economy through digitalization to accelerate economic growth. He further stressed the need to expand production in critical sectors like agriculture by promoting mechanization and irrigation.
Addressing the global issue of climate change, the Minister reiterated that collective action is essential but urged that mitigation efforts should not hinder the economic progress of developing nations. He also pointed out the need to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as they transition to industrialization, noting the vast opportunities within Uganda’s tourism sector, where Indonesia’s success could serve as a model.
In addition to delivering the President’s statement, Okello participated in a panel discussion themed "Outlook from the Region: Update and Prospect for Cooperation" on 2 September 2024, further highlighting the prospects of deepening Uganda-Indonesia ties for mutual economic benefit.
