Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The Turkish government is open to importing agricultural and forestry products from Indonesia. Conversely, Turkey also hopes that its agricultural products can find a market in Indonesia.
“Indonesian products can serve as raw materials for the food and beverage industry as well as the handicraft industry sector in Turkey. Such cooperation can provide mutual benefits for both countries,” said Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ibrahim Yukmali, during President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to Turkey for a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday (April 11, 2025). During the visit, President Prabowo also delivered a speech at the Leader’s Talk at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Ankara and Antalya. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, delivered the keynote speech at the Turkiye-Indonesia CEO Roundtable Meeting on behalf of the President of the Republic of Indonesia.
The meeting, organized by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK), was attended by more than 50 business leaders from both countries, representing various sectors such as defense, technology, construction, infrastructure, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, vocational education, and human resource development.
“Indonesia and Turkey need to strengthen economic cooperation and explore the still vast potential between the two countries, amid global uncertainties and the newly rising protectionism trend by the United States,” said Minister Airlangga in his press release.
Indonesia and Turkey have relatively stable economic fundamentals with strong domestic consumption. The year 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of Indonesia-Turkey bilateral relations, and further cooperation is essential for both countries.
Bilateral trade between the two countries in 2024 was around USD 2.4 billion, with a target set by both Heads of State to increase it to USD 10 billion. Therefore, the acceleration and implementation of a limited preferential trade agreement is a must. Through this agreement, both countries can focus on key products to be exempted from tariffs and non-tariff barriers, with a relatively faster negotiation timeframe.
“Turkey sees Indonesia as a key partner and a hub for trade in the ASEAN region,” said Turkish Deputy Minister of Trade Ozgur Volkan Agar.
Turkey already has free trade agreements with Malaysia and Vietnam, making it imperative to finalize the limited preferential trade agreement in line with the mandate of both nations. On the other hand, Indonesia can also view Turkey as a hub to access the European Union market and support the acceleration of the Indonesia-EU CEPA negotiations.
Also present at the Turkiye-Indonesia CEO Roundtable Meeting were Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso, Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Achmad Rizal Purnama, Director General for America and Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Umar Hadi, and Chairman of KADIN Indonesia Anindya Bakrie.
