Economic cooperation between Indonesia and Japan has been further strengthened through various international forums such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA), and the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEPA). At the end of 2023, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida inaugurated the ASEAN-Japan 50th Anniversary Summit in Tokyo, marking five decades of collaboration that have maintained stability, peace, and economic growth in the region. To realize the cooperation programs between the two countries, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita held a bilateral meeting with Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hayashi Yoshimasa, in Tokyo on Friday (21/6). The Minister of Industry sought support in economic and industrial cooperation between the two countries. Both nations welcomed the conclusion of substantive negotiations on the IJEPA Protocol Amendment, which has been ongoing since 2019, and hope for its implementation soon. Additionally, the Minister expressed appreciation for Japan's readiness to support Indonesia's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which will open opportunities for Indonesia to learn from Japan's industrial sector experience.
Currently, Indonesia is in the process of OECD accession, with the initial memorandum involving the alignment of policy instruments with OECD standards through self-assessment, targeted for completion by the end of 2024. The Ministry of Industry will be one of the responsible ministries/agencies involved in the official accession process. To further enhance regional cooperation, the Minister also invited Japan to participate in the ASEAN Statesperson Forum in Bali on July 29, which provides a framework for face-to-face meetings between current and future leaders in the region. This collaboration is expected to continuously strengthen economic relations between Indonesia and Japan and contribute positively to stability and economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
