ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia’s diplomatic corps across Europe has reaffirmed its full commitment to supporting the implementation of the Indonesia–European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU CEPA), as bilateral trade between Indonesia and the European Union (EU) continues to strengthen.
In 2024, total trade between the two partners reached USD30.1 billion, with Indonesia recording a USD4.5 billion surplus, a 75% increase from the previous year. Indonesian exports to the EU grew by 4%, while imports declined by around 9%, signaling improved competitiveness of Indonesian products in the European market.
This commitment was underscored during a meeting between Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and Indonesia’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the EU, Andri Hadi, at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Jakarta on Friday, November 14, 2025.
The meeting reviewed the latest progress in finalizing IEU CEPA and explored further steps to strengthen trade and investment cooperation.
Minister Airlangga stated that the implementation of IEU CEPA is expected to expand market access for Indonesia’s key export products such as palm oil, footwear, coffee, furniture, agricultural and fishery goods, and telecommunications equipment. The agreement is also projected to foster collaboration in sustainable industry development and digital transformation.
Ambassador Andri reported that the EU has initiated the legal scrubbing and translation process for the IEU CEPA text. Once this stage is completed, the agreement will proceed to its formal signing, with both parties targeting full entry into force by early 2027.
He also noted that the EU remains Indonesia’s fifth-largest source of foreign investment, driven by strong interest in energy transition projects, sustainable manufacturing, and the digital economy.
Negotiations for IEU CEPA were declared substantially concluded during the Chief Negotiators’ Meeting held on 9–12 September 2025 and publicly announced on 23 September 2025 in Bali.
According to Coordinating Ministry Spokesperson Haryo Limanseto, Indonesian missions across EU member states will play an increasingly strategic role during the pre-implementation phase of IEU CEPA, particularly in strengthening public understanding of Indonesia’s commitments and promoting new economic cooperation opportunities within the framework of the agreement. (AT Network)
Follow Us at Google News and WA Channel