JAKARTA, KOMPAS \u2014 Amid global uncertainty, Indonesia and Germany have\nreaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their strategic\npartnership, particularly in the economy, investment, energy transition,\neducation, and employment sectors. Both countries agreed to push for the\nacceleration of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic\nPartnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) negotiations as a concrete step to\nexpand market access and reinforce the economic foundations of both\nnations.<\/p>\n
These points emerged during a bilateral meeting between President\nPrabowo Subianto and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Merdeka Palace\nin Jakarta on Monday. The statement was delivered in a joint press\nconference following a four-eye meeting and delegation-level talks.<\/p>\n
President Prabowo was accompanied by several ministers from the Merah\nPutih Cabinet, including Foreign Minister Sugiono, Coordinating Minister\nfor Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Energy and Mineral\nResources Bahlil Lahadalia, and State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi.\nAlso present were Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, Minister of\nInvestment and Downstreaming\/Head of BKPM Rosan Roeslani, Health\nMinister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister for the Protection of Indonesian\nMigrant Workers Mukhtarudin, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.\nThe German delegation included Minister of State Florian Hahn, German\nAmbassador to Indonesia Ralf Beste, and Head of the Foreign Policy\nDepartment at the Presidency Wolfgang Silbermann.<\/p>\n
In the joint press statement, President Prabowo expressed his respect\nand gratitude for President Steinmeier\u2019s visit, calling it a symbol of\nthe close relationship between the two countries. He noted that the\nvisit serves as a strategic momentum to mark the beginning of the 75th\nanniversary of Indonesia-Germany bilateral relations, which will\nculminate in 2027. \u201cThis visit is also an important momentum amidst\nincreasingly uncertain global dynamics. Strengthening and sustaining the\nIndonesia-Germany partnership is certainly a priority,\u201d Prabowo\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The President stated that both countries agreed to strengthen\nbilateral cooperation in various strategic sectors, including the\neconomy, investment, energy transition and security, as well as\neducation and employment. He specifically emphasised the urgency of\nfinalising the IEU-CEPA, hoping for a substantive conclusion in the near\nfuture. Prabowo expressed hope that Germany would continue to play an\nactive role in encouraging the finalisation process within the European\nUnion so that the business communities of both countries could soon reap\nthe concrete benefits of the agreement.<\/p>\n
Beyond trade diplomacy, economic collaboration is also being\nreinforced through the Competitiveness, Industrial Modernization, and\nTrade Acceleration (CITA) programme. The IEU-CEPA itself is a\ncomprehensive framework designed to eliminate trade barriers, enhance\nmarket access, and promote investment between Indonesia and the 27 EU\nmember states. Although a substantial agreement was signed in September\n2025, both sides are now focusing on the ratification stages in their\nrespective parliaments.<\/p>\n
President Prabowo also specifically invited German businesses to\nexpand investment in Indonesia\u2019s strategic priority sectors, including\nenergy transition, downstream industrialisation, the electric vehicle\necosystem, and the semiconductor industry. \u201cWe also invite Germany to\nparticipate in the critical minerals and rare earth supply chain, as\nwell as in national infrastructure development,\u201d he stated. The\nIndonesian government also welcomed the Partnering in Business with\nGermany programme, which targets strengthening micro, small, and medium\nenterprises. As a concrete step, Indonesia will host the second Joint\nEconomic and Investment Committee meeting later this year.<\/p>\n
In the employment sector, President Prabowo expressed appreciation\nfor the signing of a letter of intent regarding a Global Skills\nPartnership in nursing. Indonesia hopes to expand opportunities for its\nskilled workers in Germany, including in high-technology fields. On\ngeopolitical issues, both leaders agreed that all conflicts must be\nresolved through negotiations and reaffirmed their commitment to\ncooperate within diplomatic corridors to maintain global peace and\nstability.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-and-germany-strengthen-partnership-push-for-ieu-cepa-acceleration-1781585416", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }