RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia is positioning itself as a strategic hub for production, investment, and exports, with Trade Minister Budi Santoso underscoring the importance of strengthening bilateral trade with Thailand.

Indonesia, he said, is pursuing policies to expand market access, diversify exports, and deepen collaboration among businesses in both countries.

Speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Minister Budi explained that Indonesia’s trade strategy now emphasizes export market diversification and broader access through bilateral and regional trade agreements.

Alongside opening new markets, the country is working to boost the competitiveness of domestic enterprises, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), so they can seize export opportunities, including in Thailand.

“To support this strategy, Indonesia continues to enhance the competitiveness of our businesses, especially MSMEs. We are also integrating them into global value chains,” Minister Budi said, as quoted by Antara.

He noted that Indonesia-Thailand trade reached USD 17.7 billion in 2025, and closer cooperation is expected to lift this figure further. As two of ASEAN’s largest economies, Indonesia and Thailand play a strategic role in driving regional growth, making stronger trade ties essential.

Budi stressed that despite global uncertainties shaped by geopolitical tensions, supply chain adjustments, climate challenges, and technological transformation, Indonesia retains strong economic prospects thanks to its vast domestic market, demographic dividend, and abundant natural resources.

The government is also committed to advancing industrial downstreaming, food security, sustainable development, and global market expansion to sharpen Indonesia’s competitiveness. “These strengths position Indonesia as a strategic hub for production, investment, and exports,” he said.

He added that deeper ASEAN economic integration is vital to maintaining regional competitiveness. As two of the bloc’s largest economies, Indonesia and Thailand share both the opportunity and responsibility to lead efforts in strengthening regional cooperation. ***