Trade Minister: Indonesia-Malaysia to Boost Bilateral Investment via MIIC-WG
Indonesia and Malaysia welcome the synergy between their respective investment authorities to foster a conducive investment climate and strengthen bilateral investment cooperation.
The Indonesian Minister of Trade, Budi Santoso, alongside Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, is pushing for the strengthening of bilateral investment cooperation through the Malaysia-Indonesia Investment Committee Working Group (MIIC-WG).
This was one of the key discussion points during the 4th Ministerial-level meeting of the Indonesia-Malaysia Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC) held at the Ministry of Trade office in Jakarta on Thursday.
During the meeting, both ministers exchanged views on investment cooperation and the role of the MIIC-wide in strengthening the synergy between the investment authorities of each country.
“Indonesia and Malaysia welcome the synergy of our respective investment authorities to encourage a conducive investment climate and strengthen bilateral investment cooperation,” said Budi.
Budi stated that this cooperation is expected to open more opportunities for Indonesian and Malaysian businesses to expand investments and strengthen the economic ties between the two nations.
In addition to investment, the JTIC meeting also discussed strengthening trade cooperation, including market access and trade facilitation for agricultural and food products.
Both countries also welcomed the strengthening of cooperation between business actors through the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).
Indonesia-Malaysia cooperation also encompasses several other sectors, such as e-commerce, agriculture, halal, and standardisation.
Both ministers encouraged the relevant authorities in their respective countries to follow up on the meeting results concretely to strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation.
JTIC serves as a bilateral forum to strengthen Indonesia-Malaysia cooperation in the fields of trade and investment. JTIC also acts as a platform for both countries to discuss various issues, challenges, and opportunities of mutual interest.
The 5th JTIC meeting will be held in Malaysia at a time to be agreed upon by both nations.
From January to July 2026, Indonesia-Malaysia trade reached US$16.83 billion, an increase of 21.01 per cent compared to the same period in 2025, which stood at US$13.91 billion. During this period, Indonesia’s exports were recorded at US$8.26 billion and imports at US$8.57 billion. Meanwhile, in 2025, trade between the two countries reached US$24.18 billion, with Indonesia’s exports at US$13.06 billion and imports at US$11.12 billion.
Indonesia’s main non-oil and gas export commodities to Malaysia include mineral fuels, animal and vegetable fats and oils, various chemical products, copper, as well as iron and steel.
Meanwhile, major imports from Malaysia consist of machinery and mechanical appliances, plastics and articles thereof, electrical machinery and equipment, organic chemicals, as well as cocoa and chocolate.