Indonesia Explores Preferential Trade Agreement with Morocco

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Industry, Faisol Riza, said the country is exploring the establishment of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Morocco to expand access to national markets. He noted that the cooperation would strengthen industrial supply chains by securing supplies of phosphate and aluminum.

“Morocco holds a strategic position as a gateway to North Africa and the Mediterranean region. We see a significant opportunity to leverage this advantage to expand access for Indonesian industrial products to regional markets,” Faisol said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Morocco, established in 1956, serve as the foundation for strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries. In recent years, the value of non-oil and gas trade rose nearly 33 percent in 2025 to USD 235 million.

Indonesia views its partnership with Morocco as an opportunity to enhance the competitiveness of national industries and expand cooperation networks. Indonesia’s main export products include vegetable oils, rubber, footwear, textiles, machinery, coffee, tea, spices, and electrical equipment.

In addition to discussing the PTA, the two countries are also strengthening cooperation in the halal industry.

This commitment was realized through the signing of a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on Halal Certification between Indonesia’s Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) and Morocco’s Institut Marocain de Normalisation (IMANOR) in May.

The agreement is expected to facilitate the entry of Indonesian halal products into the Moroccan market while creating opportunities for investment and the development of the halal industry.

The Ministry of Industry has invited the Moroccan government to participate in Halal Expo 2026 to expand business networks, investment, and trade in halal products.

Both countries are also exploring collaboration to strengthen the aerospace industry supply chain, including support for the development of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) activities in Indonesia. This cooperation covers human resource capacity building, joint research, investment promotion, industry exhibitions, and business matching.

As a follow-up, the Ministry of Industry is preparing for participation in the Indonesia-Morocco Business Forum in early 2027. The forum is expected to expand business partnerships, encourage investment, and accelerate the realization of various cooperation opportunities between the two countries. (Gusti Panji)