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Mozambique has turned to Indonesia to learn how to develop its science and technology sector.

A bilateral memorandum of understanding between Indonesia and Mozambique was signed by the Indonesian State Minister of Research and Technology Suharna Surapranata and his Mozambican counterpart Venancio Simao Massingue on Wednesday.

The agreement includes cooperation in the fields of aerospace, biotechnology, energy, transportation, disaster mitigation and information and communication technology.

The southeastern African country wants to broaden the abilities of its researchers and science and technology personnel by learning from Indonesian scientists.

Massingue said that Indonesia and Mozambique shared similarities in their histories — both were colonized by the Portuguese and the Dutch respectively and both are members of the G77, a major bloc of developing countries.

“We have decided that Indonesia is one of the very strong partners that we will work with in terms of science and technology, innovation and strategy. I think this is a good reason [to cooperate] and also because you have very good people,” Massingue told reporters after signing the agreement.

Suharna said the Indonesian government welcomed the idea of Mozambique wanting to learn from Indonesia.

“So, apart from Indonesia learning from more developed countries, we can also share our experience and expertise in building our human resources in science and technology,” Suharna said.

Massingue said there was “no doubt” that his country would benefit from working with Indonesia.

“Your level of education is improving. It means that you have certain capacities in different scientific fields such as nanotechnology, space technology and manufacturing,” Massingue said.

The government of Mozambique hopes that its Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (MOSTIS) will serve as the basis for the eradication of poverty and also help promote sustainable development.

“It defines the main areas and actions to which the country has to pay special attention during the next 10 years in order to ensure that science and technology contributes more for the economic growth and development in the country,” Massingue said.

Nada Marsudi, an official for the international science and technology network at the state ministry, said Mozambique has said it wanted to have research exchange programs with Indonesia.

She added that South Africa was the first African nation Indonesia cooperated with. Mozambique also has science and technology cooperation agreements with other Asian countries such as India and Malaysia.

“We want to see progress running in these [cooperation] fields and the agreement will not end on paper,” Massingue said.

The six-member Mozambique delegation is also scheduled to tour some of Indonesia’s research and technology facilities such as the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Lapan), the Indonesian Institute of Sciences’ Biotechnology Research Center and the Research Center for Science and Technology (Puspiptek) in Serpong, Banten.