The Indonesian government is seeking to bolster bilateral cooperation with its trading partners, including Russia and the United States, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi.
She made these remarks after President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received letters of credence from the ambassadors of ten friendly countries—Brunei Darussalam, Papua New Guinea, Tunisia, Russia, the United States (US), Cuba, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Lithuania, and North Macedonia—on Thursday.
Marsudi mentioned that she will meet with the ambassadors to detail the priorities of ongoing bilateral cooperation.
“Indonesia has good relations with these ten countries,” she noted. “Some of them are Indonesia’s main trading or economic cooperation partners.”
Marsudi highlighted that Indonesia is currently pushing negotiations with the US regarding the nickel mineral arrangement and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
She also noted that Indonesia is negotiating a preferential trade agreement with Tunisia.
“If the preferential trade agreement can be completed, our exports could increase by 32.82 percent,” she stated.
With Russia, Indonesia is pursuing the completion of the Indonesia-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (Indonesia-EAEU FTA), which is expected to boost trade between Indonesia and Russia, as well as with Eurasian Economic Union countries.
Marsudi further mentioned that Indonesia is also pushing for the conclusion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) negotiations.
Additionally, Indonesia is continuing to encourage stronger cooperation with Latin American and European countries.
She noted that Indonesia has several initiatives, such as the Indonesia-Latin America and the Caribbean (INA-LAC) Business Forum, scheduled for September 11–13 in Peru.
There is also the Indonesia-Europe Business Forum (IEBF), which will take place in Jakarta on October 7–8.