Airlangga Affirms Indonesia Will Focus On Agricultural Innovation And Optimizing Natural Resources

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto and Minister for Export Promotion, International Trade, and Canadian Economic Development Mary Ng. (Photo: Coordinating Ministry for the Economy)

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto emphasized that in entering economic transformation, Indonesia focuses on agricultural innovation, optimizing natural resources (SDA), and the high technology industry in bilateral meetings with the Minister of Promotion of Export, International Trade, and Development of the Canadian Economy Mary Ng.

The meeting between the two was coupled with a meeting with Indonesian and Canadian business people, at least 180 Canadian companies took part in the Trade Mission Team.

Airlangga said that there are several sectors of cooperation that can be developed by the two countries, including critical minerals, agriculture, the digital sector, to the energy transition.

Therefore, Airlangga invited business people from Canada to explore investment opportunities in various strategic sectors that support sustainable economic growth.

In addition, during the meeting, Airlangga also expressed hope that Canada could support Indonesia's accession process into a Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement to Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

"We will really appreciate the support from Canada as a strategic partner," said Airlangga in his statement, Tuesday, December 3.

Therefore, the two ministers hope that the realization of the ICA-CEPA can increase the volume of trade between Indonesia and Canada.

Airlangga said Indonesia hoped that the ICA-CEPA could support the supply chain of the two countries.

In addition, Airlangga also explained Indonesia's desire to distribute critical minerals into the global supply chain, one of which is by utilizing the ICA-CEPA agreement.

On the same occasion, Minister Ng appreciated the completion of the 10th Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA) negotiations, which marked the completion of the agreement and opened up opportunities for the two countries to deepen their trade ties.

Minister Ng also emphasized Canada's commitment to supporting the implementation of ICA-CEPA in Indonesia by allocating USD 25 million over the next five years for technical assistance and capacity development.

This hope was welcomed by the Minister of Ng who supported Indonesia to continue the CPTPP access process and hoped that Indonesia could meet all CPTPP members to accelerate the accession process.

"All CPTPP partners welcome Indonesia's steps that have submitted an accession process," said Minister Ng.

As is known, CPTPP consists of 11 member countries, of which Canada is currently the Chair of the CPTPP Commission for 2024.

Furthermore, Minister Ng conveyed an invitation from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to President Prabowo to visit Canada as a follow-up to the post- Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Peru.

Prime Minister Trudeau hopes that the visit can foster closer relations between the two countries, said Minister Ng.

Airlangga expressed his appreciation for the invitation, which will further strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Canada.

At the end of the meeting, the two ministers also discussed the discourse of visiting the ASEAN trading mission to Canada as one of ASEAN's priority programs in 2025. After the visit in Indonesia, Minister Ng will then make a visit to the Philippines.