During a meeting with Uruguay’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Valeria Csukasi on Tuesday (September 16), Santoso emphasized that trade relations between Indonesia and Uruguay still have significant room for growth.
“Indonesia underscores the importance of strengthening bilateral trade cooperation with Uruguay and Mercosur as part of a joint effort to achieve a mutually beneficial trade agreement,” Santoso stated here on Wednesday.
Mercosur, or Mercado Común del Sur, is a South American economic bloc comprising Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Negotiations for the Indonesia–Mercosur CEPA were officially launched on December 17, 2021. In June 2022, both sides met to discuss a framework and negotiation plan. However, differing priorities have delayed the start of the first negotiation round.
Vice Minister Csukasi welcomed Indonesia’s continued support for the CEPA initiative and expressed hope that stronger bilateral ties with Uruguay could help boost trade while broader Mercosur negotiations remain pending.
She also invited Minister Santoso to visit Uruguay as a sign of Indonesia’s commitment to advancing CEPA talks with the regional bloc.
From January to July 2025, total trade between Indonesia and Uruguay reached US$65.2 million, with Indonesia posting a surplus of US$36.6 million. In 2024, total bilateral trade amounted to US$65.9 million, with a surplus of US$33.7 million.
Indonesia’s main exports to Uruguay include palm oil, leather footwear, printing machinery, textile shoes, and medical instruments, while imports consist of processed wood, crustaceans, chemical wood pulp, cotton, and processed leather.
Related news: Peru wants RI to become Latin America's halal certification hub
Related news: Pertamina eyes energy sector cooperation with L America, Caribbean
Translator: Maria, Kenzu
Editor: M Razi Rahman
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
