Indonesia and Chile Strengthen Economic and Critical Minerals Cooperation

Indonesia and Chile have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations through enhanced economic cooperation and increased coordination in various regional and international forums. The commitment was affirmed during a bilateral meeting between Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Perez Mackenna in Jakarta. During the meeting, both countries expressed a desire to expand the partnership beyond conventional trade sectors. The focus is directed towards strategic sectors expected to provide tangible benefits to the people of both nations. Foreign Minister Sugiono stressed the importance of maximising the implementation of the Indonesia-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IC-CEPA). According to him, this agreement is a vital instrument for boosting bilateral economic growth. ‘Optimising the utilisation of the Indonesia-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IC-CEPA) by business actors is key to translating the economic partnership between the two countries into something more concrete,’ said Foreign Minister Sugiono. The optimal utilisation of the agreement is expected to open more mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities for business actors from both Indonesia and Chile. Beyond trade, both countries identified significant potential in cooperation on critical minerals. As nations rich in mineral resources, Indonesia and Chile have substantial opportunities to collaborate in developing downstream industries. Outside the economic sphere, the meeting also discussed cooperation opportunities in research and science, agriculture, and health. Both governments are committed to promoting collaborative projects that have a direct impact on the public. Regarding regional and multilateral issues, the two foreign ministers agreed to strengthen ties between the Southeast Asian and Latin American regions to face global challenges. The Chilean Foreign Minister’s visit to Jakarta also served as a momentum to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The meeting reinforced the commitment of Indonesia and Chile to strengthen solidarity among Global South nations. This step is taken to encourage the creation of a more just, inclusive, and sustainable global governance.