Indonesia, Uruguay Strengthen Cooperation in Trade and Food Security

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Uruguay are exploring new opportunities to strengthen their economic partnership, with trade, investment, and food security forming the core of recent discussions between the two countries.

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto welcomed the Uruguayan delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Valeria Csukasi, in Jakarta on Friday, August 21, 2026.

The meeting was also attended by Uruguay’s Deputy Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries Matías Carámbula, Uruguay’s Ambassador to Indonesia Cristina González, as well as representatives from the National Meat Institute (Instituto Nacional de Carnes/INAC) and the National Dairy Institute (Instituto Nacional de la Leche/INALE).

Minister Airlangga emphasized that strengthening bilateral economic ties is increasingly crucial amid global uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions. “Indonesia and Uruguay have great potential to further strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, as well as concrete collaboration in the livestock sector,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Monday, August 24, as quoted on the ministry’s official website.

He expressed optimism that enhanced cooperation would bring tangible benefits to business communities and citizens in both countries. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maximizing mutually beneficial economic opportunities.

Trade relations between Indonesia and Uruguay have shown positive growth. Bilateral trade reached approximately USD 112.5 million in 2025, up 70.7 percent from the previous year.

In terms of investment, Uruguay’s direct investment in Indonesia amounted to around USD 606,000 in the first and second quarters of 2026. Both countries also agreed to accelerate negotiations toward the Indonesia–Mercosur Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IM‑CEPA).

Cooperation has also expanded at the regional and multilateral levels. Uruguay expressed its support for Indonesia’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans‑Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as well as for strengthening collaboration within the OECD, given Uruguay’s status as an OECD partner country.

In the agriculture and livestock sectors, Uruguay offered capacity‑building programs for Indonesian livestock farmers, leveraging its experience as one of Latin America’s leading producers and exporters of beef and dairy products.

Minister Airlangga stated that the meeting reflects the strong commitment of both countries to deepen mutually beneficial economic cooperation, particularly amid rising global uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.

The bilateral meeting is part of ongoing efforts by Indonesia and Uruguay to strengthen economic relations spanning 60 years, with both countries expecting existing cooperation to evolve into a broader, more concrete partnership. ***