Airlangga Highlights Economic Potential at Indonesia–Belarus Business Forum

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto welcomed the Indonesia–Belarus Business Forum and Business Matching held at Hotel Aryaduta Jakarta on Tuesday (30/6/2026). The forum is seen as a means to bring together business actors from both countries and open up opportunities for economic cooperation. Airlangga said the forum is expected to expand business networks and encourage increased trade, investment, and mutually beneficial economic partnerships. “This business forum is a strategic platform to strengthen business-to-business cooperation while translating good bilateral relations into tangible economic partnerships,” Airlangga said at the event. Airlangga also cited the planned state visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Indonesia on 1-2 July 2026 as an important momentum to deepen cooperation. He hopes the visit will yield a number of strategic agreements. According to Airlangga, the value of bilateral trade between Indonesia and Belarus in 2025 reached approximately USD 221.3 million, an increase of around 30 percent compared to the previous year. He affirmed Indonesia’s commitment to increasing exports, including electronic products, fisheries, rubber, cocoa, and palm oil derivatives to Belarus. Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Viktor Karankevich said multi-sector relations between the two countries continue to develop following meetings between their respective leaders. Karankevich stated that President Lukashenko has signed the law ratifying the Indonesia–Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (I-EAEU FTA). “We also support the establishment of the Indonesia-Belarus Business Council as a forum to strengthen communication and collaboration between the business communities of both countries,” Karankevich said. James T. Riady, Coordinating Vice Chairman for International Affairs of KADIN Indonesia, stressed the importance of building long-term partnerships through collaboration between business actors. He said strong business partnerships will create jobs, increase investment, and drive sustainable economic growth. “Through the Indonesia-Belarus Business Forum and Business Matching, both countries affirm their commitment to strengthening mutually beneficial economic relations and encouraging the realisation of various cooperation opportunities in trade, investment, industry, and sustainable development,” said James Riady. Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mikhail Miatlikov expressed appreciation for the forum. He assessed that the economic structures of the two countries complement each other and open up opportunities for cooperation in many sectors. The implementation of the I-EAEU FTA is expected to expand Indonesia’s trade access to the EAEU market, which is said to have a population of around 180 million people and a GDP value of approximately USD 2.56 trillion. The Indonesian government is also committed to following up on the results of the 8th Indonesia-Belarus Joint Commission Session on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation. The forum also served as an opportunity to welcome the planned state visit of President Lukashenko to Jakarta as an effort to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. Also present at the event were Minister of Trade Budi Santoso and Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Mogiarso.