Jakarta, March 16, 2026 – The Europe Today: Indonesian Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti has stepped up efforts to strengthen trade and investment cooperation with Singapore and Malaysia through a series of bilateral meetings with officials from the two neighboring countries.
According to a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday, the meetings were held on the sidelines of the 32nd ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Retreat in Taguig, the Philippines, on Friday (March 13).
“Through these bilateral meetings, Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening trade cooperation that is open, inclusive, and oriented toward regional economic growth,” Esti said.
During her meeting with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, Esti highlighted the positive trajectory of bilateral trade relations between the two countries. Trade between Indonesia and Singapore has grown by 14.6 percent over the past five years, rising from US$16.85 billion in 2020 to US$19.32 billion in 2025.
She noted that Indonesia views its partnership with Singapore as having significant potential for further expansion, particularly through the diversification of Indonesian export products toward goods with higher added value.
At the meeting, Indonesia also reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the accession process for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which the country sees as a modern framework capable of enhancing economic integration in the Indo-Pacific region.
Both sides also discussed several regional economic cooperation agendas, including progress in negotiations for the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and various initiatives aimed at boosting trade and investment.
Meanwhile, during her meeting with Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Sim Tze Tzin, the two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade ties between Indonesia and Malaysia.
In 2025, total trade between the two countries reached US$24.22 billion, reflecting the strong economic relationship between the neighbors.
Indonesia believes there are substantial opportunities to expand market access and deepen cooperation across various high-value sectors.
The discussions also covered strengthening bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including plans to convene a Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC) meeting and efforts to enhance investment cooperation through the Malaysia-Indonesia Investment Committee (MIIC).
In addition, both deputy ministers reviewed developments in cross-border trade cooperation, including the implementation of the 2023 Border Trade Agreement (BTA) and efforts to accelerate the normalization of trade activities at the Entikong–Tebedu border crossing.
“Indonesia and Malaysia share a strong trade relationship. We see many opportunities to expand our cooperation,” Deputy Minister Esti affirmed.
