ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has revealed that certain parties are unhappy with Indonesia’s increasingly aggressive expansion into global free trade agreements (FTAs), singling out Singapore as a country showing discomfort.
According to Airlangga, Indonesia’s broader market access has been accompanied by geopolitical and economic frictions, including what he described as attempts to undermine the country’s position.
“Singapore is not very happy when Indonesia joins all these free trade agreements. There are also efforts to disrupt Indonesia,” Airlangga said during the Road to Jakarta Food Security Summit (JFSS) 6 in South Jakarta on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
As of publication, Singapore has not issued an official response to the remarks.
Indonesia Steps Up Global Market Access
Airlangga said the Indonesian government continues to expand market access across multiple regions. Based on a Swiss firm’s study, he noted that Indonesia ranked among the world’s most aggressive market openers in 2025.
This strategy includes key trade agreements such as:
– Indonesia–European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EU CEPA)
– Trade agreement with Canada
– Preparations for a comprehensive trade agreement with the United Kingdom
At the regional level, Indonesia is part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) alongside ASEAN nations, Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, and New Zealand.
“If this were a race, Indonesia would be in pole position compared to other ASEAN countries,” Airlangga said.
Indonesia is also undergoing a technical review for OECD membership and pursuing accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), although it still lags behind Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
Despite these challenges, Indonesia continues to attract global interest.
“Indonesia is on the first track of open access, one of the largest globally, and second only to China as an alternative engine of growth,” he said.
Airlangga added that affordable energy, improving human capital, and a large domestic market remain key strengths amid global economic uncertainty.
Food Security and National Resilience: A Strategic Priority
Indonesia, with a population of 285 million, considers the food sector a strategic issue closely linked to national security. Ensuring stable food supply is essential for the continuity of social and economic activity, requiring a planned, integrated, and sustainable approach to guarantee availability, affordability, and safety for all citizens.
President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized the importance of national self-sufficiency, with food independence as a cornerstone of national development.
Agriculture and food sectors are designated as national priorities to strengthen food security, improve farmer welfare, and support long-term economic growth.
“In 2025, rice production reached 34.71 million tons, one of the highest in history, producing a surplus of 3.52 million tons. Despite price fluctuations, farmers’ income reached record levels in recent years,” Airlangga said during the summit.
Food security is also reinforced through strategic programs such as the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG), funded with IDR 335 trillion from the national budget (APBN).
By ensuring early payment to suppliers, the program supports production continuity, encourages private sector participation, and provides a stimulus to local economies, creating jobs and boosting national economic growth.
Additional measures in 2026 include:
– IDR 164.4 trillion for agricultural production and food stock stability
– IDR 181.8 trillion to empower rural SMEs, strengthen logistics, and run the Red-White Market Operations to stabilize food distribution and control inflation.
The government is also addressing strategic risks such as climate change, noting challenges from El Niño and La Niña in 2024, which affected national rice production. Agriculture contributes around 14.35% of GDP and employs nearly 29% of the workforce (≈40.7 million people), highlighting its critical role in the economy.
To mitigate these risks, Indonesia is promoting modern farming and food estate programs, applying technology, efficiency improvements, and climate risk management to ensure sustainable productivity.
“The government continues to promote Mandatory Biodiesel B40, reducing CO₂ emissions by nearly 42 million tons in 2025 and saving USD 8 billion in diesel imports in 2024. This is part of an agriculture-based energy sovereignty strategy,” Airlangga explained.
Finally, the government is tackling logistics and food loss challenges, with studies showing 23–48 million tons of food wasted annually. Integrated management, improved logistics, and private sector collaboration through CSR are crucial to building an efficient and sustainable food system.
This integrated version now covers Indonesia’s global trade strategy, regional position, and internal food security priorities, making it suitable for international readers interested in economic, geopolitical, and development issues. (AT Network)
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