Indonesia Pushes for PTA and Supply Chain Strengthening with Morocco
Amid a positive trend in non-oil and gas trade performance in 2025, which surged nearly 33 per cent to reach USD 235 million, the Governments of Indonesia and Morocco are exploring the establishment of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). In addition to reducing tariff barriers and enhancing the competitiveness of local manufactured products in the Mediterranean region, this cooperation is directed at securing supplies of strategic industrial raw materials such as phosphate and aluminium.
The initiative was discussed during a bilateral meeting between Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Industry, Faisol Riza, and Morocco’s Deputy Minister in charge of Foreign Trade, H.E. Omar Hejira. Beyond expanding market access for Indonesian industrial products, the two countries also explored strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, and the halal industry, as well as several strategic manufacturing sectors.
"Morocco holds a strategic position as a gateway to North Africa and the Mediterranean region. We see a great opportunity to leverage this advantage to expand access for Indonesian industrial products to regional markets, while strengthening partnerships in future industrial sectors such as aerospace, the halal industry, pharmaceuticals, and new and renewable energy," said Deputy Minister of Industry Faisol Riza during the bilateral meeting in Jakarta.
Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Morocco, established in 1956, serve as the foundation for strengthening economic cooperation. In recent years, the partnership has shown positive development, reflected in increased bilateral trade and growing opportunities for collaboration across various industrial sectors. Indonesia views this partnership as an opportunity to bolster national industrial competitiveness while expanding its cooperation network with Africa and surrounding regions.
The potential for bilateral trade between Indonesia and Morocco is driven by increasing exports of various Indonesian manufactured products to Morocco, such as vegetable oils, rubber and its derivatives, footwear, textiles, machinery and electrical equipment, as well as leading commodities like coffee, tea, and spices. Conversely, Indonesia imports fertiliser, aluminium, textiles, and various industrial raw materials from Morocco.
In addition to discussing the PTA, the meeting resulted in a joint commitment to accelerate the strengthening of halal industry cooperation. This commitment was realised with the signing of a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on Halal Certification between Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Organising Body (BPJPH) and the Moroccan Institute of Standardization (IMANOR) in May 2026. Going forward, the agreement will facilitate Indonesian halal products entering the Moroccan market without undergoing repeated certification processes, while opening up investment opportunities and halal industry development in both countries.