RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Canada are reinvigorating their parliamentary ties with the reactivation of the Canada-Indonesia Parliamentary Friendship Group (CIPFG), a move hailed as strategic in strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors.

Indonesian Ambassador to Canada Muhsin Syihab welcomed the revival of the group, which was first established in 2009 but had been inactive since 2022. He described the momentum as a crucial step toward the 75th anniversary of Indonesia-Canada relations in 2027.

"A parliamentary friendship group is vital for bilateral cooperation, helping build partnerships that are not only strong but also future-oriented,” Ambassador Muhsin said in a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He emphasized that the forum provides continuity in parliamentary interaction, complementing Indonesia’s own Bilateral Cooperation Group with Canada at the House of Representatives (DPR RI).

The reactivation, he added, was the result of proactive outreach by the embassy to Canadian lawmakers in both the House of Commons and the Senate, encouraging support for closer ties with Indonesia.

The CIPFG is expected to play a role in advancing concrete pillars of cooperation, including economic partnership, defense and political collaboration, and people-to-people exchanges.

These priorities reflect the agenda outlined by President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Mark Carney during their meeting in September 2025.

One key issue currently shaping bilateral relations is the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA). Ambassador Muhsin noted that ratification in Canada could be completed this month, with Ottawa urging Indonesia to accelerate its own process.

The reactivation of CIPFG was formalized at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 4, 2026, with cross-party members from both chambers joining the body.

The meeting elected two co-chairs: Clement Gignac representing the Canadian Senate and Sameer Zuberi from the House of Commons, who will lead the group for the next two years.

According to the Indonesian Embassy, both co-chairs underscored the importance of restoring CIPFG as a platform to deepen cooperation with Indonesia, which they described as a key player in the Indo-Pacific region.

This renewed parliamentary engagement signals a broader effort to elevate Indonesia-Canada relations, ensuring that political dialogue, economic collaboration, and cultural exchange remain central as the two nations approach a milestone in their diplomatic history. ***