Indonesia Eyes Morocco as Gateway to Wider Global Markets

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia is positioning Morocco not only as a direct export destination but also as a strategic gateway to Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean, with plans to expand trade ties through a comprehensive agreement by 2027.

Deputy Trade Minister Dyah Roro Esti highlighted on Friday, August 28, 2026, that several Indonesian commodities -- such as crude palm oil (CPO) and derivatives, semi-finished iron and steel, ammonia, and frozen shrimp -- still hold unrealized export potential in Morocco’s market.

Strengthening access, she said, is a key reason behind the government’s push to accelerate negotiations on the Indonesia–Morocco trade agreement. The partnership is not one-sided. Morocco plays an important role in supplying Indonesia with strategic imports, particularly fertilizers and aluminum.

Dyah Roro emphasized that reactivating negotiations with Morocco’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade Omar Hejira marks a crucial step toward turning strong political ties into tangible economic benefits.

“Indonesia is ready to work constructively with Morocco to accelerate this process. This momentum should be seen as an opportunity to transform political relations into sustainable economic gains,” she said, as quoted by Antara.

Trade data reflects growing momentum. Bilateral trade reached USD 235 million in 2025, up 33 percent from the previous year, and continued to rise by 37 percent in the first five months of 2026, hitting USD 180 million.

Indonesia’s exports -- ranging from coffee and coal to margarine and pneumatic tires -- stood at USD 154.9 million in 2025, while imports from Morocco totaled USD 80.1 million, dominated by mineral and chemical fertilizers, phosphate fertilizers, raw aluminum, and women’s apparel.

Roro noted that Morocco’s geographic position offers Indonesia a springboard into wider markets, while Indonesia can serve as Morocco’s entry point into ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific.

Between 2021 and 2025, Indonesia’s exports to Morocco recorded a positive growth trend of 4.95 percent, with Morocco ranking as Indonesia’s 74th largest export destination. ***