Deputy Minister of Trade: Strengthen Strategic Partnership, Indonesia and Germany Become Economic Pillars

Indonesia and Germany are two countries that play important roles in their respective regions. Just as Germany is a major economic force in the European Union, Indonesia is also one of the primary drivers influencing Southeast Asia. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri at the “Evening Reception with Business Talk: Germany and Indonesia, Opportunities for a Deeper Partnership” event held in Jakarta on Thursday (30/4).

“Given this, Indonesia and Germany will continue to view each other as priority strategic partners in both regions. Therefore, the two countries need to continue their relationship more closely and seek collaborative steps to increase two-way trade for mutual progress,” said Deputy Minister Roro.

Deputy Minister Roro explained that Germany is one of Indonesia’s main strategic partners. To further strengthen the partnership, Indonesia has established two main trade representative offices in Germany, namely the Trade Attaché in Berlin and the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in Hamburg.

Regarding exports, Indonesia’s printing machinery industry has become the foundation of this partnership, with exports to Germany reaching more than USD 281 million in 2025. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s exports of coffee, tea, and spices to Germany have also increased significantly, reaching USD 243 million with 175 per cent growth.

On the other hand, German steel pipes and tubes became the main export products to Indonesia in 2025, valued at USD 215 million and growing by 225 per cent compared to the previous year. These figures show that the overall Indonesia-Germany trade structure indicates that the industries of both countries complement each other.

“By leveraging this momentum, we should certainly further increase trade cooperation, including through the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA), which is currently in the final legal review stage. We are optimistic that this process will be completed on schedule, signed at the end of 2026, and implemented at the beginning of 2027,” emphasised Deputy Minister Roro.

Furthermore, Deputy Minister Roro elaborated that I-EU CEPA will provide legal certainty and strategic incentives to strengthen trade cooperation, investment, and the green industry sector, while ensuring that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can access broader market opportunities. With I-EU CEPA, it also presents opportunities for German businesses to strengthen collaboration in the energy, raw materials, and green industry sectors, as well as to optimise Indonesia’s market potential through various available facilities.

The strategic partnership between Indonesia and Germany has now extended to the professional services export sector. This is marked by collaboration between the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Manpower Protection for Migrant Workers in placing 4,000 Indonesian professional workers in Germany in the hospitality, retail, and health sectors.

“This initiative, which is a follow-up to the Joint Trade Mission for Professional Services in Berlin, is real evidence that cooperation between the two countries has transformed into a comprehensive partnership that includes talent mobility cooperation and human capital development,” said Deputy Minister Roro.

Member of the German Bundestag, Thomas Bareiß, stated that Indonesia and Germany have strong relations that have lasted for more than 60 years. This relationship is based on mutual trust, shared economic interests, and people-to-people exchanges. “There are around 300 German companies currently operating in Indonesia, from small and medium scales to large companies. With the arrival of I-EU CEPA, we are confident that trade and investment relations between the two countries will be even stronger and continue to grow,” he added.

Total Indonesia-Germany trade in the January-February 2026 period was recorded at USD 860.6 million. Of this value, Indonesia’s exports to Germany amounted to USD 331.1 million. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s imports from Germany amounted to USD 529.5 million.