Indonesia to Expand Service Cooperation with Russia in Various Sectors
The Indonesian government is opening up opportunities to strengthen trade cooperation with Russia through strategic sectors such as information technology, construction, hospitality, and digital technology to promote sustainable economic growth. This agreement was discussed during a bilateral meeting in Kazan, Russia, on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Deputy Minister of Trade, Dyah Roro Esti, met directly with Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Ilyichev, to discuss strengthening this partnership. This step was taken following the positive trend in trade between the two countries, as reported by Money, which shows a significant increase.
Indonesia highlighted the availability of skilled workers ready to support the needs of various industries in the current Russian market.
“In addition to trade in goods, Indonesia is also opening up opportunities for cooperation in the service sector,” said Roro in an official statement on Friday, May 15, 2026.
The government believes that this collaboration will be mutually beneficial given the specializations of the domestic workforce.
“Indonesia is considered to have skilled human resources in the fields of information technology, construction, hospitality, and digital technology that can support the needs of Russian industry,” she added.
Under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia is committed to continuing to accelerate industrial downstreaming and create added value for various national products.
“The trade relationship between Indonesia and Russia continues to show a positive trend,” said Roro.
This effort is expected to maintain the momentum of economic growth through the expansion of broader investment between the two countries.
“We want to ensure that this momentum can continue to be strengthened through increased mutually beneficial trade and broader investment cooperation,” she continued.
Based on 2025 trade data, the total transaction value between the two countries reached 4.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 21.7 percent. Russia holds a crucial role, contributing 90.6 percent to Indonesia’s total trade in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) region.
The traded commodities are complementary, with Russia supplying the raw materials needed by Indonesian industry, such as fertilizers, coal, and steel.
“Indonesia welcomes the increasing confidence of the Russian market in various superior national products,” said Roro.
In return, Indonesia actively sends plantation products such as palm oil, coffee, coconuts, and cocoa to the Russian market.
“We are committed to maintaining the quality, competitiveness, and sustainability of Indonesian export products in the Russian market,” she continued.
Regarding trade regulations, the government is accelerating the ratification of the Indonesia-EAEU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which was previously signed in December 2025. The target implementation of this agreement is expected to begin in the third or fourth quarter of 2026.
As a tactical step, Indonesia has proposed the formation of the Indonesia-EAEU Business Council (IEBC) as a forum for connecting business actors.
“The establishment of the Indonesia-EAEU Business Council is expected to be a catalyst in strengthening relations between business actors,” said Roro Esti.
This business council is projected to be able to open up new investment opportunities that have not been fully exploited.
“In addition, it will also expand investment opportunities and encourage increased trade between the two countries,” she continued.
The Deputy Minister also used the forum to invite the participation of Russian entrepreneurs in the annual international trade exhibition in Indonesia.
“Trade Expo Indonesia is an important momentum to bring together business actors from both countries and open up new opportunities for cooperation in the fields of trade and investment,” said Roro Esti.
This bilateral relationship also includes the fields of research and technology, including the exploration of new and renewable energy and the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes under the supervision of BAPETEN.