During a bilateral meeting with Zimbabwe’s Vice President Kembo Mohadi on the sidelines of the Second Indonesia-Africa Forum, Indonesian President Joko Widodo also called for the establishment of a preferential trade agreement between the two countries and expressed Indonesia’s desire to invest in Zimbabwe’s pharmaceutical sector, envisioning it as a regional hub for exporting medicines produced there.

Indonesia has a significant demand for lithium to support its electric vehicle industry. Lithium is key in the production of lithium-ion batteries, which are integral to electric vehicles.

Zimbabwe is the world’s fifth-largest producer of lithium, according to Global Data. In 2022, under the Base Minerals Export Control Act, Zimbabwe prohibited the export of raw lithium, taking the opportunity to the use lithium value chain. By pursuing this strategy, Zimbabwe can enhance the value derived from its resources and attract businesses that specialize in battery manufacturing.