Indonesia’s Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the newly signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Canada is expected to accelerate trade and investment, offering greater market access for Indonesian goods and services in Canada and across North America.
Santoso expressed hope that the ratification process, which usually takes up to 10 months, could be expedited, allowing the deal to take effect by mid-2026.
“With this agreement, tangible benefits in trade and investment can be quickly felt by stakeholders in both countries,” he said in a statement on Friday.
Both governments agreed to promote the pact through chambers of commerce in their respective countries to raise awareness and ensure businesses make full use of the opportunities it provides.
They will also set up an implementation team to identify trade opportunities and joint investment projects, with a focus on infrastructure, transportation and telecommunications.
In a meeting with Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu in Ottawa on Sept. 24, Santoso underscored several strategic areas expected to strengthen under CEPA, particularly improving market access for Indonesia’s priority exports. This, he said, would be supported by technical cooperation and harmonization of food safety standards.
He added that the Indonesian government remains committed to enhancing compliance systems to boost competitiveness of its products in global markets, especially Canada.
“We continue to work hard to ensure our products meet international standards so they can compete globally, including in Canada,” he said.
“We also need support from the Canadian government to gain a deeper understanding of the types of products most needed by the Canadian market," he added.
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Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Martha Herlinawati
Editor: Primayanti
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