An Indonesian delegation conducted a series of bilateral meetings on\nthe sidelines of the 14th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial\nConference (MC14) in Yaound\u00e9, Cameroon, from 26 to 29 March 2026.<\/p>\n
The bilateral meetings addressed MC14 issues as well as trade and\ninvestment relations between the two countries. The Indonesian\ndelegation was led by Johni Martha, Special Staff for International\nRelations at the Ministry of Trade.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe held bilateral meetings with Germany, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, the\nEuropean Union (EU), and the Netherlands on the sidelines of MC14 WTO to\nshare views on crucial issues discussed at MC14 and to enhance bilateral\ntrade cooperation. These countries share the same view on the importance\nof the WTO and the need for reform to make the WTO more relevant in the\ncurrent global situation,\u201d Johni stated.<\/p>\n
In several of these bilateral meetings, Johni was accompanied by Nur\nRahman Setyoko, Deputy Permanent Representative of Indonesia II to\nGeneva\/Indonesian Ambassador to the WTO, and Dina Kurniasari, Director\nof World Trade Organization Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade.<\/p>\n
In addition to discussing MC14 issues, the meetings served as an\nopportunity to enhance mutually beneficial trade and investment\ncooperation. With the EU, Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany, both sides\nagreed to utilise the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic\nPartnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA) mechanism to discuss issues and\nefforts to improve trade relations. These countries support the prompt\nimplementation of the I-EU CEPA process.<\/p>\n
Johni further explained that Indonesia and these countries also\nagreed that business actors in each country should enhance cooperation\namong business players. This can be achieved through business matching\nor other trade promotions.<\/p>\n
With Saudi Arabia, both countries agreed to push for the swift\nconclusion of negotiations on the Indonesia-Gulf Cooperation Council\n(GCC) CEPA. Specifically, the Swedish delegation also conveyed plans for\nCrown Princess Victoria of Sweden to visit Jakarta in September 2026 to\nenhance Indonesia-Sweden investment and trade.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the German delegation urged that the 2nd Meeting of the\nIndonesia-Germany Joint Economic and Investment Committee (JEIC) be held\nat the earliest opportunity.<\/p>\n
The 14th MC in Yaound\u00e9, Cameroon<\/p>\n
The 14th MC WTO was held in Yaound\u00e9, Cameroon, from 26 to 29 March\n2026 to advocate for global trade reform and strengthen the multilateral\nsystem. The selection of Cameroon as the host highlights the strategic\nrole of developing countries, particularly in Africa as representatives\nof least developed countries (LDCs), in achieving inclusive, fair, and\nconsensus-based trade. This MC is an important moment for developing\ncountries to ensure that the world trade system does not abandon the\nconsensus principle and accommodates inclusive economic interests.<\/p>\n
The MC is the highest decision-making forum in the WTO, held every\ntwo years. Trade ministers from WTO member countries will make strategic\ndecisions on key issues of the multilateral trade system at this\nforum.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hosting of MC14 in Yaound\u00e9 is a strategic moment to promote\nincreased trade and investment cooperation between Indonesia and\nCameroon while expanding Indonesia\u2019s partnerships with countries in the\nincreasingly developing Central African region as potential economic\npartners,\u201d stated Agung Cahaya Sumirat, Indonesian Ambassador to\nCameroon concurrently accredited to Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon,\nCongo, and the Central African Republic.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Embassy in Yaound\u00e9 was newly opened in 2025. The\nestablishment of the diplomatic representation aims to enhance\ncooperation with countries in the Central African region.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/discussing-crucial-issues-indonesian-delegation-holds-meetings-with-several-countries-at-wto-ministerial-1775001047", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }