Indonesia, Belarus push trade pact as FTA ratification progresses

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia is in the process of ratifying the Indonesia–Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (I-EAEU FTA) and thanked Belarus for completing its ratification.

"In the trade sector, we appreciate Belarus for completing the ratification process for the Indonesia-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement. We are also currently in the ratification process," he remarked during a joint statement with Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday.

Indonesia and the Eurasian countries signed the free trade agreement on December 21, 2025. The EAEU includes Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.

Amid current global dynamics, Prabowo views Belarus as an important partner for Indonesia in the Eurasian region.

To that end, the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in several sectors, including agriculture, trade, and culture.

On Thursday, they also launched the Indonesia–Belarus Roadmap for Strengthening Cooperation 2026–2030, which will serve as a framework for bilateral relations over the next five years.

"This roadmap reflects a shared commitment to more focused and concrete cooperation," Prabowo emphasized.

On the same occasion, President Lukashenko said both countries shared a long-standing relationship, putting Indonesia as an important partner for Belarus in the Southeast Asian region.

Furthermore, he reaffirmed Belarus' commitment to implementing the cooperation roadmap, including efforts to advance modern agriculture and manufacturing.

"This is the most important achievement today: ensuring food security between the two countries and discussing various global affairs," he noted.

Lukashenko also expressed optimism that Indonesia’s economy would continue to grow, citing the rapid progress achieved since his first visit in 2013.

His remarks align with data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), which showed that Indonesia’s economic growth in the first quarter of 2026 reached 5.61 percent year-on-year, higher than the same period in 2025 and marking the fastest growth in more than three years.

The 5.61 percent growth was mainly driven by household consumption, increased government spending, investment (gross fixed capital formation), and the accommodation and food and beverage sector, which recorded the strongest expansion.

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Translator: Prisca Triferna/Maria Cicilia, Resinta S

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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