Indonesia-Croatia Boosts Various Cooperation at Dubrovnik Forum

RRI.CO.ID, Dubrovnik – Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anis Matta, paid a working visit to Croatia from June 27, 2026, to represent the Indonesian Foreign Minister at the Dubrovnik Forum 2026 while strengthening bilateral ties between Indonesia and Croatia.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this year’s forum adopted the theme “The Age of Multipolarity: Many Directions, One Future” and focused on geopolitical, security, economic, and multilateral cooperation challenges amid an increasingly multipolar world.

“The forum serves as a platform for leaders, policymakers, and international figures to discuss global challenges, ranging from geopolitical dynamics, international security, and economic resilience to the future of multilateral cooperation amid growing global multipolarity,” the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday, June 27, 2026.

On the sidelines of the forum, Anis Matta held a bilateral meeting with Croatia’s State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Frano Matušić. During the meeting, both sides discussed strengthening cooperation in various sectors, including trade and investment, education, digitalization, tourism, and the defense industry.

“Indonesia also proposed several concrete initiatives, including the establishment of a regular business forum, the development of integrated religious tourism packages, logistics cooperation through the Port of Rijeka, and collaboration in the film industry involving creative industry players from both countries,” he said.

The bilateral meeting resulted in several key understandings, including accelerating the finalization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the placement of Indonesian migrant workers in Croatia’s hospitality sector. Croatia also expressed its support for Indonesia’s accession to the OECD and the conclusion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA).

In addition, both countries committed to expanding economic and educational cooperation while exchanging views on Indonesia-European Union relations and the importance of collaboration among developing and middle-power countries in maintaining international stability amid global uncertainty.

As part of the visit, Anis Matta also paid a courtesy call on Croatia’s Grand Mufti, Aziz Effendi Hasanović, at the Islamic Center Zagreb. Their discussion covered global geopolitical developments, the condition of the Muslim world, strengthening Muslim community networks, and the importance of interfaith dialogue and religious moderation.