Tempo English - 12 May 2026
Indonesia, Ethiopia deepen strategic ties through trade and investment
Indonesia and Ethiopia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership as fellow Global South countries by holding the 2nd Meeting of the Indonesia-Ethiopia Bilateral Consultation Forum (FKB) in Jakarta.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Tuesday, cited ANTARA, that the strengthening of the commitment was carried out in a meeting that took place on Thursday, May 7, led by the Director General of Asia Pacific and Africa Santo Darmosumarto and the Director General of the Middle East, Asia, and Pacific at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dewano Kedir.
"In an increasingly complex global landscape that demands robust diplomacy and broader partnerships, the partnership with Ethiopia, a growth hub and gateway to East Africa, is highly strategic," said Santon Darmosumarto.
Over 65 years of diplomatic relations, Indonesia and Ethiopia have built a close friendship that has now developed into a results-oriented partnership. Bilateral trade between the two countries also showed a positive trend, reaching approximately US$138.6 million (Rp2.4 trillion) in 2025, an increase of approximately 40 percent compared to 2024.
Additionally, five Indonesian companies are currently operating or investing in Ethiopia. Furthermore, both parties agreed to make trade and investment a primary focus, including exploring the establishment of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to expand market access and encourage Indonesian outbound investment to Ethiopia.
To support economic activities and people-to-people contact, the two countries also discussed strengthening connectivity, including expanding the implementation of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) at Ethiopian Airlines.
In the agricultural sector, Indonesia and Ethiopia agreed to promote cooperation on key commodities such as palm oil, coffee, cloves, soybeans, and wheat. They also agreed to collaborate on various capacity-building programs related to animal husbandry and food security.
Meanwhile, in the political sphere, both countries emphasized the importance of increasing high-level visits and strengthening regular dialogue mechanisms. This includes using the FKB as a strategic forum to discuss priority issues and evaluate follow-up cooperation. In the spheres of sociology, culture, and development, Indonesia and Ethiopia agreed to strengthen their cooperation in higher education, health, tourism, and development.
Meanwhile, Dewano Kedir emphasized the importance of strengthening follow-up to the meeting's outcomes and welcomed the plan to hold the 3rd Bilateral Consultative Forum Meeting in Ethiopia.
"Ethiopia highly values its friendly relations with Indonesia and sees this forum as a platform to expand cooperation in priority areas," Dewano said.
The meeting concluded with the signing of the agreed-upon minutes, which will serve as guidelines for further bilateral cooperation. This includes commitments to various initiatives in priority sectors.
