Indonesia Explores Milk Imports from Belarus for Free Nutritious Meal Programme
The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, is exploring opportunities for milk imports from Belarus. This move is intended to increase the milk supply to support the national strategic programme, the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG).
These explorations were discussed during a meeting between Minister Airlangga and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus, Viktor Karankevich, on the sidelines of the Indonesia-Belarus Business Forum and Business Matching in Jakarta on Tuesday (30/06/2026). This meeting serves as a follow-up to the 8th Joint Commission Meeting (SKB) between the two nations.
In addition to dairy products, both countries are focusing on strengthening cooperation in the agricultural sector through the use of modern technology. Belarus has expressed its readiness to share expertise in agricultural mechanisation, including the development of harvesting equipment, agricultural transport, and the establishment of local assembly facilities in Indonesia.
“Indonesia recognises the importance of promoting cooperation that provides tangible benefits for both countries, including through joint investments and the development of strategic projects that can serve as low-hanging fruit in the Indonesia-Belarus economic relationship,” said Airlangga.
Several large Belarusian companies, such as MAZ, BelAZ, and Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ), are considered to have significant opportunities to expand their presence in the heavy industrial vehicle and agricultural machinery manufacturing sectors within the country.
The government is also encouraging the accelerated implementation of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Indonesia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti noted that Indonesia’s trade value with the EAEU has reached 5.3 billion USD.
However, bilateral trade specifically with Belarus currently stands at 221 million USD. “There is still immense room for growth,” stated Dyah Roro Esti.
Regarding human resources, Minister Airlangga emphasised that strengthening education, particularly in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM), is a government priority to enhance national competitiveness through university collaborations between the two nations.