Italy has reaffirmed Indonesia’s position as a key strategic partner in Southeast Asia, as both countries move to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and high value-added industries. The commitment was underscored during a meeting between Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, and Italy’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maria Tripodi, held in Jakarta on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
The discussions focused on strengthening the long-standing Indonesia–Italy partnership, which marks 77 years of diplomatic relations, with particular emphasis on trade, investment, industry, energy, defense, technology, and maritime security.
Minister Airlangga highlighted the strong performance of bilateral trade, which continues to show a positive trend. In 2024, total trade between Indonesia and Italy reached USD 3.9 billion. Meanwhile, during the January–September 2025 period, bilateral trade totaled USD 3.289 billion, reflecting promising prospects for further expansion. “I would like to express my appreciation for the progress in our bilateral trade, as well as the significant potential and achievements in priority sectors such as industry, energy, defense, technology, and maritime security,” Airlangga said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Maria Tripodi emphasized that Indonesia holds a strategic position in Southeast Asia, supported by strong political stability and vast economic potential across the Asian region. “Indonesia is an important economic and trading partner for Italy. The conclusion of the Indonesia–European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU CEPA) will open highly promising new pathways for both Italy and Indonesia,” Tripodi stated.
Italy also expressed its readiness to encourage greater involvement of Italian high-technology companies in Indonesia. One such example is e-GEOS, an aerospace company whose capabilities could support Indonesia in monitoring its vast maritime territory and combating illegal fishing. Furthermore, Italy noted that Indonesia could increase its trade volume with the European Union by optimizing logistics routes through key ports such as Trieste and Genoa, particularly amid growing global trade fragmentation and supply chain disruptions.
Regarding the ongoing IEU CEPA negotiations, Minister Airlangga reiterated Indonesia’s expectation for active support from Italy, both at the European Union level and within internal processes of EU member states, to ensure the agreement is finalized in a timely manner and delivers tangible benefits for businesses on both sides. “We are looking forward to Italy’s support in facilitating the EU’s internal processes to accelerate the completion of IEU CEPA,” Airlangga said. The minister also outlined opportunities for collaboration in the mineral-based industries, including stainless steel and copper, particularly for high value-added cable production. He further conveyed Indonesia’s aspirations to develop a national automotive industry and explore cooperation in the apparel and fashion sectors, where Italy holds a global competitive advantage.
Responding to these proposals, Deputy Minister Tripodi expressed Italy’s support for Indonesia’s initiatives, both through direct bilateral cooperation and broader engagement within the European Union framework. The meeting was attended by senior officials from Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and diplomatic representatives, underscoring the shared commitment of both countries to advancing a strategic partnership focused on sustainable economic growth and long-term cooperation. (AT Network)
Source: https://asiatoday.id/read/italy-indonesia-a-key-partner-in-southeast-asia
