In a step for bilateral relations, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Célestine Ketcha Courtès, received the first resident Ambassador of Indonesia to Cameroon, H.E. Agung Cahaya Sumirat, discussion centered on strengthening cooperation on housing policies and sustainable urban growth.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development (MINHDU), Célestine Ketcha Courtès, held an audience with the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Cameroon, H.E. Agung Cahaya Sumirat, on Tuesday. This meeting marks a milestone as Ambassador Sumirat, who took up his post in July 2025, is Indonesia’s first resident diplomatic representative in Cameroon.
The discussions centered on key areas of cooperation in housing and urban development. Minister Ketcha Courtès expressed Cameroon’s strong interest in sharing experiences and processes, particularly drawing parallels between Cameroon’s government program to build ten thousand social housing units and develop fifty thousand building plots, and Indonesia’s “Three Million Housing” program.
The Indonesian initiative, launched by President Prabowo Subianto in October 2024, aims to address a housing deficit estimated at 9.9 million units in 2023. Both parties also addressed the shared challenge of rapid population growth and the strategies required to provide essential urban services to their expanding populations.
The talks highlighted the role of the private sector in supporting government action, especially in waste management, as advocated by President Paul Biya. The necessity of transitioning to a circular economy to transform urban challenges into opportunities was also emphasized. Minister Ketcha Courtès described the meeting as productive, reinforcing the framework for a durable and fruitful cooperation between the two nations.
Ambassador Agung Cahaya Sumirat brings extensive international diplomatic experience to his new role, having previously served as Consul for Cultural and Social Affairs in Vancouver, Canada, Political Affairs Coordinator at the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia; and Director of Diplomatic Security at Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
