Indonesia Claims Pole Position in Global Trade Expansion for 2026

KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia has emerged as one of the world’s most assertive economies, opening global market access throughout 2025 and securing what officials describe as a strategic “pole position” for the coming year.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto revealed that a recent Swiss study identified Indonesia as a global leader in market liberalization, driven by a series of high-stakes trade agreements and international accessions.

Speaking at the “Road to Jakarta Food Security Summit” in Jakarta on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Minister Airlangga detailed the nation’s rapid integration into the world’s most influential trade blocs. “The government continues to open market access. Based on a study by a Swiss company, Indonesia was one of the countries that opened the largest market in 2025,” Minister Airlangga said, as quoted by Antara.

Minister Airlangga highlighted several pillars of this expansion, including progress on the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EU CEPA), partnerships with Peru and Canada, and an upcoming Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom to prepare for a bilateral CEPA.

He added that Indonesia has also signed agreements with the Eurasian Economic Union (IAEU) and is leveraging its membership in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which links ASEAN with major economies such as China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

“Compared to other ASEAN countries, we are in the pole position, the front row,” Minister Airlangga explained. He noted that Indonesia is currently undergoing a technical review for membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and is actively pursuing accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Minister Airlangga acknowledged competitive pressures in the region, noting that neighbors such as Singapore may view Indonesia’s full integration into free trade cautiously.

Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in Indonesia’s trajectory, citing the country’s status as a top alternative growth destination after China. He emphasized Indonesia’s strong economic foundation and competitive energy costs, which outperform those of rivals such as Vietnam.

Minister Airlangga underscored the role of Indonesia’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which he said are proving the country’s competitiveness by successfully penetrating diverse international markets.

To sustain this momentum, he urged the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) to play a more active role in global trade promotion and cooperation.

“What President Prabowo Subianto hopes for is that we have a highly competitive region. Our exports will continue to increase as we demonstrate that products from our special economic zones are competitive in various countries,” Minister Airlangga concluded. ***