Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, held a bilateral meeting with Andrey Slepnev, Member of the Board and Minister in Charge of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), on Thursday (May 29, 2025) in Jakarta.
The meeting was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen economic ties and boost trade between Indonesia and the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), as well as to follow up on the Indonesia–EAEU Free Trade Agreement (I-EAEU FTA) negotiations launched in December 2022.
During the meeting, the two ministers discussed the progress of the I-EAEU FTA negotiations, including strategic issues such as enhancing market access for key products from both sides.
Both expressed optimism that the negotiations could be concluded this year, given that most major issues have been resolved and the process is now in its finalization stage.
“The realization of the I-EAEU FTA will send a positive signal to the global economic market,” said Minister Airlangga in his official statement, adding that the agreement would serve as a vital foundation for strengthening Indonesia’s economic ties with the Eurasian region.
As a trade bloc, the EAEU is a potential strategic partner for Indonesia, with a population of over 180 million. Trade between Indonesia and the EAEU has shown a positive trend, with total trade reaching USD 4.09 billion in 2024, an increase of nearly 8% from the previous year.
Minister Slepnev noted that the EAEU is seeking to diversify its trade with Indonesia and is open to dialogue to allow businesses from both sides to connect and explore collaborative opportunities more effectively.
Minister Slepnev also highlighted that EAEU member countries recorded an average GDP growth of 4.4%, higher than the global average.
“Indonesia’s strong GDP growth in recent years reflects the success of its policy implementation,” said Minister Slepnev.
According to him, this presents a strategic opportunity for both parties to enhance cooperation and support one another, especially in navigating the challenges of global trade dynamics.
The meeting is expected to reinforce the commitment of both sides to conclude the FTA negotiations in a timely manner and to open broader and mutually beneficial economic cooperation opportunities between Indonesia and EAEU member states.
“I believe this shows that we are good friends and true friends. That’s what friendship is for. During turbulent times, we can complete negotiations and steer in the same direction,” concluded Minister Airlangga. *
