Indonesia and Japan Agree on Cooperation in Rare Earths and Critical Minerals

President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Japan has resulted in cooperation on rare earths and critical minerals between the two countries. Indonesia and Japan have also agreed to collaborate on downstreaming programmes and the development of renewable energy. “We continue to invite and open ourselves to Japanese participation in Indonesia’s economy, as well as partnership cooperation in critical minerals and rare earths. We also invite Japan to participate in Indonesia’s industrialisation through downstreaming,” said Prabowo, quoted from Kontan, Tuesday (31/3/2026). “We will accelerate and help remove bottlenecks in existing projects, for example Legok Nangka and Sarulla,” he explained. In addition, the two countries aim to accelerate the ratification and implementation of the protocol amending the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement. “We also invite Japan to join in cooperation and collaboration in all fields, including those I mentioned earlier: education, tourism, and people-to-people programmes,” Prabowo stated. The meeting between the two leaders serves as an important momentum to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various strategic sectors to support each country’s national interests. Amid increasingly complex global geopolitical dynamics, the two countries, as close friends, have reaffirmed their commitment to continue playing a role in maintaining regional stability and contributing to realising world peace.