Airlangga Reveals Thanks To The Capai Cosmetic Discussion On The Signing Of The IEU-CEPA Agreement

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. (Photo: Aris Nurjani/VOI)

BADUNG - Indonesia and the European Union officially signed a substantial settlement in the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that this signing was an important milestone in strengthening the economic partnership between Indonesia and the European Union.

Airlangga explained that the process towards this agreement took quite a long time and negotiations had lasted more than ten years, with the intensity of the discussion increasing in the last two years.

He also shared his personal experience during the diplomatic process, where in one meeting, discussions about cosmetic products became a common ground that played an important role in encouraging the understanding of both parties.

"I want to thank the European Commissioner for the Trade of Maroefovi. I think through our cosmetic diplomacy we can sign this agreement. I remember the agreement that made the opportunity based on substantive talks about cosmetics which is most important for Maros' daughter and for my daughter," said Airlangga at the IEU-CEPA Indonesian Joint Announcement, Tuesday, September 23.

The IEU-CEPA negotiation process began in July 2016 and has gone through at least 19 rounds of official negotiations, plus a number of meetings between sessions, until finally reaching an agreement that is considered historic.

Airlangga menegaskan, diskusi yang berlangsung hampir satu dekade menunjukkan kompleksitas dan komitmen tinggi dari kedua pihak.

Ia menyebut perjanjian ini sebagai awal era baru hubungan bilateral antara Indonesia dan Uni Eropa.

Lebih lanjut, Airlangga mencatat, Uni Eropa merupakan mitra dagang terbesar kelima bagi Indonesia.

Pada tahun 2024, total nilai perdagangan kedua pihak mencapai 30,1 miliar dolar AS, dengan ekspor Indonesia tercatat sekitar 13 miliar dolar AS.

Airlangga emphasized that the discussions that lasted almost a decade showed the complexity and high commitment of both parties.

He called this agreement the beginning of a new era of bilateral relations between Indonesia and the European Union.

Furthermore, Airlangga noted, the European Union is the fifth largest trading partner for Indonesia.

In 2024, the total trade value between the two parties will reach 30.1 billion US dollars, with Indonesia's exports recorded around 13 billion US dollars.