Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the partnership between Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been established since 1976, plays an important role in supporting Indonesia's development.

Last year, the UAE was Indonesia's second-largest trade partner among Middle Eastern countries, with trade value totaling US$5.06 billion. In addition, the UAE has become one of Indonesia's main markets, with crude palm oil as the most important export commodity.

"Cooperation between Indonesia and the UAE plays an important role in supporting development in Indonesia. One of the agreements is the floating solar power plant project in Cirata dam, West Java," he stated at the 52nd National Day Reception of the United Arab Emirates here on Friday.

The floating project was recently inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on November 9, 2023.

According to Hartarto, this collaboration demonstrated the commitment of both countries in the field of renewable energy. In addition, opportunities are still wide open for joint efforts to boost trade volume and maintain trade balance.

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Indonesia and the UAE signed the Indonesia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IUAE-CEPA) on July 1, 2022. The agreement has been effective since September 1, 2023.

The two countries are committed to establishing stronger and broader cooperation, especially in the fields of economy, trade and investment, defense industry, and renewable energy.

"I am also pleased that the United Arab Emirates has been conferred as an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner at the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting on August 3, 2022, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia," he remarked.

Hartarto affirmed that the UAE also signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia at the meeting.

At the global level, the two countries are playing an important role in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

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Translator: Bayu Saputra, Raka Adji
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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