Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that this cooperation opens up opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations between both nations further and explore new areas for collaboration.
"Our strong bilateral relations, rooted in mutual respect and shared values, have fostered collaboration in various fields, namely trade, investment, security, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges," the minister noted in a statement from his office on Thursday.
He explained that bilateral trade between Indonesia and Thailand had increased, reaching the highest record of more than US$19 billion in 2022 and nearly US$17.5 billion in 2023.
Moreover, Thailand's foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indonesia grew significantly last year, with more than 450 projects worth US$185.5 million, Hartarto stated.
"We need to continue to encourage stronger engagement, extending beyond governmental interactions and encompassing business-to-business exchanges and people-to-people contact. We believe in great untapped potential to strengthen our partnership," he stated.
He said that President Prabowo Subianto’s priorities on food and energy security and an independent and active foreign policy align with shared goals between the two countries.
Given the two countries' long history and close ties, Indonesia and Thailand can be strong partners in realizing common goals. Moreover, in 2025, Indonesia and Thailand will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.
Hartarto affirmed that as fellow ASEAN founding fathers, Indonesia and Thailand are intrinsically linked in a shared journey towards regional progress and prosperity.
Under ASEAN’s regional economic cooperation, he thanked Thailand for its leadership in negotiating the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which is currently on track.
He then expressed confidence that DEFA could provide economic benefits to all ASEAN countries.
In addition, Indonesia and Thailand are working together to become members of the BRICS and the OECD.
It encourages both countries to work closer to ensure the membership is not merely beneficial to both countries but also elevates the voice of developing countries, promotes south-south cooperation, and ensures a positive impact on the global development landscape, he explained.
“I send my regards to the new Thai government. May our bilateral and regional relations continue to grow,” Hartarto concluded.
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Translator: Bayu Saputra, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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