Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has expressed optimism that economic relations between Indonesia and Malaysia are set to deepen further in the coming years. In 2024, bilateral trade between the two nations reached USD 23 billion, while Malaysian investments in Indonesia amounted to USD 4.2 billion. Tourism also saw robust performance, with 1.7 million visits from Malaysia to Indonesia in the same year. Efforts are underway to expand cooperation in Islamic finance, to strengthen institutional partnerships (for example between Indonesia’s Eximbank and its Malaysian counterparts), and to enhance regional frameworks such as the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund, especially in financing green infrastructure projects. Financial integration is also being supported through mechanisms like cross-border QR payments.
Beyond economics, Sadewa underscored that the bilateral relationship is growing more multidimensional. Besides trade and finance, Indonesia and Malaysia are increasing collaboration in sectors like health, education, and people-to-people exchanges, which are seen as vital for long-term mutual understanding and stability. On the diplomatic front, both countries also maintain close alignment in international forums like ASEAN and the United Nations. Their leaders—President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim—have met at least six times in 2025, reflecting strong political ties that help underpin these broader cooperative goals.
