Ecobiz.asia – Indonesia and Chile have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors, including critical minerals, health, science and technology, and agriculture, as the two countries seek to deepen economic ties and expand collaboration under their trade agreement.
The commitment was announced during a bilateral meeting between Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna in Jakarta on Monday (July 20, 2026).
“We agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various strategic sectors, including critical minerals, science and technology, agriculture, and health,” Sugiono said.
The two ministers also agreed to encourage closer collaboration between businesses from both countries to maximize the implementation of the Indonesia-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IC-CEPA).
They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation among Global South countries to promote a more just, inclusive, and sustainable international order.
“The momentum of this bilateral meeting also marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Chile,” Sugiono said.
The IC-CEPA, signed in December 2017 and implemented in August 2019, has gradually expanded beyond trade in goods. A protocol covering trade in services was signed in November 2022, while Indonesia ratified the protocol in early 2025.
Under the agreement, 6,704 Indonesian products receive zero-percent import tariffs when entering the Chilean market. The products span agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, mining, and industrial goods.
The partnership also covers investment promotion, research and development, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), tourism, logistics, international transportation, and information and communication technology.
According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade, bilateral trade between the two countries reached US$535.51 million in 2025, an increase of 12.4% from the previous year.
The ministry said Indonesian exports have become increasingly competitive in the Chilean market, particularly in the automotive, fertilizer, and footwear sectors.
