Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso and UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi met on 10 October 2025 in Gqebera, South Africa, during the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting. The bilateral meeting focused on enhancing the implementation of the Indonesia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IUAE-CEPA), which came into force on 1 September 2023. Both parties expressed commitment to maximizing its potential, particularly in halal trade, digital economy, and sustainable investment.
They also reviewed the outcomes of the IUAE-CEPA Joint Committee held in October 2024 and discussed further cooperation through a proposed halal certification task force. Minister Budi also urged the UAE to support negotiations of the Indonesia-Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement (Indonesia-GCC FTA), targeting substantial completion by end-2025. Total bilateral trade reached USD 3.83 billion from January to August 2025, with Indonesia exporting USD 2.43 billion worth of goods and importing USD 1.41 billion.
