JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto reminded the world not to respond to geopolitical turmoil by cutting economic relations between countries.
According to Airlangga, the global economy needs a new framework that remains open, but is more resilient to disruptions in supply chains, trade, investment, and technology.
"The answer lies not in decoupling, but in diversification. Not in fragmentation, but in cooperation and partnerships," said Airlangga Hartarto at the Brussels Economic Security Forum (BESF) 2026 in Brussels, Belgium, Friday, June 5, 2026, quoted from an official statement from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.
BESF is an annual forum held by the European Policy Centre. This forum discusses economic security, supply chains, trade, investment, technology, and global economic dynamics.
Airlangga said the international economic order was changing. Therefore, the world needs to rebuild an economic architecture that is able to maintain the benefits of openness while strengthening economic resilience.
He cited the conflict around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Disruptions in the strategic region can quickly raise costs, suppress investment, and slow global economic growth.
This condition encourages many countries to strengthen economic security. The way is through industrial policies, investment screening, and export control.
However, Airlangga assessed that steps to maintain economic resilience should not turn into fragmentation. Cooperation, he said, remains the key.
Amid global pressure, Airlangga said Indonesia's economy was still quite strong. Indonesia's economic growth reached 5.61 percent on an annual basis in the first quarter of 2026. Inflation remains under control, foreign exchange reserves are strong, and the trade balance has recorded a surplus for more than 70 consecutive months.
Indonesia, continued Airlangga, continues to accelerate economic transformation through industrial downstreaming, strengthening manufacturing, digitization, and the green economy.
Airlangga also emphasized Indonesia's position in the global supply chain, especially in the electric vehicle, battery, critical minerals, and renewable energy sectors.
He said Indonesia had attracted investment from Asia, Europe, and North America for the production of batteries, cathode materials, to the assembly of electric vehicles.
In the digital sector, Indonesia's digital economic value is projected to exceed US$130 billion in gross merchandise value or gross transaction value by 2025. This figure makes Indonesia the largest digital economy in Southeast Asia.
For energy, the government encourages the development of renewable energy and the B50 biodiesel program. This program is expected to reduce fuel imports by up to 4 million kiloliters per year.
Airlangga also said that Indonesia continues to expand economic cooperation through a number of trade agreements. Among them are IEU-CEPA with the European Union, Indonesia-Canada CEPA, Indonesia-Eurasian Economic Union FTA, as well as the accession process to CPTPP and OECD.
As a member of ASEAN, G20, and BRICS, Indonesia wants to strengthen its role as a bridge between developed and developing countries.
The forum was closed by the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič, who emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the face of global economic and geopolitical pressures.
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