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xports and investment opportunities are expected to help Indonesian products expand their market share in Africa, an official says.

Deputy Trade Minister Mahendra Siregar said that the dual approaches had previously been effective for Indonesia in West Africa.

He said that Indonesia’s non-oil and-gas exports to Nigeria, which were valued at US$316 million last year, were almost equal to the 2010 sales of an Indonesian company that had invested in the African nation.

“Trade made along with investment will be an effective extension of market and product diversification to curb the impact of the global economic slowdown on Indonesia’s exports,” he said in a written statement issued on Friday following his recent visit to Nigeria and Ghana.

“This approach will boost the competitiveness of Indonesian products to export destinations and for new partner countries, such as countries in West Africa.”

In anticipation of the continuing the global economic slump, the government has planned to diversify its exports, including those sent to African countries, whose economies have been growing.

A delegation of businessmen led by Mahendra visited the two nations to seek new opportunities to boost exports and investments.

During a forum hosted by the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jakarta, Mahendra told local firms about the importance of economic cooperation between developing nations in the form of trade and investment.

He also invited Nigerian businessmen to take part in the 26th Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI), to be held in Jakarta later this month.

According to the Trade Ministry, around 125 importers from West African countries had registered for the expo as of the end of September.

The annual event, set to run from Oct. 19 to 23 at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Jakarta, will display Indonesia’s best and most competitive actual and potential export products and services.

The expo is expected to draw about 8,700 potential buyers with total transactions breaking US$380 million.

While visiting Ghana, Mahendra said Indonesia also sought possible partnerships with the Ghana Cocoa Board.

Ghana is the world’s second largest producer of cacao, followed by Indonesia, which is in third place.

According to Mahendra, cooperation would benefit both countries, especially in enhancing production and added value.

Separately, Indonesian Cacao Industry Association (AIKI) chairman Piter Jasman told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that he welcomed the move and expected such partnerships would help Indonesia develop its cacao industry.

“Ghana is producing fermented cacao and we import some 30,000 tons a year. By doing such cooperative efforts, we can increase the quality of our products so that we may cut our imports,” he said over the telephone.