EFTA Secretary-General meets with Indonesia’s Ambassadors to the EFTA States

The main topic of discussion during the meeting was the progress made in the implementation and use of the EFTA–Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) since its entry into force on 1 November 2021. The Secretary-General and Ambassadors exchanged views on preference utilisation and how the EFTA States and Indonesia can cooperate to enhance utilisation of the CEPA, in particular among small and medium-sized enterprises.

Bilateral trade between EFTA and Indonesia has increased significantly in the last five years (+52.9%), reaching a total amount of EUR 1.6 billion in 2023. Most of this growth is driven by an impressive performance by imports from Indonesia, which have grown at an annual rate of close to 20%. In 2023, Indonesia showed a trade surplus with each of the EFTA States, with the main imported products including nickel and articles thereof, footwear, textiles and electrical machinery. Indonesia’s trade with the EFTA States shows high complementarity, as EFTA’s main exports to Indonesia consist of machinery, and medical appliances, pharmaceutical products, organic chemicals, and watches and other precision instruments.

Read more about merchandise trade between EFTA and Indonesia here.