Indonesia, Chile Aim to Diversify Bilateral Trade

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Chile have agreed to expand trade cooperation by opening new opportunities in the agriculture, food, and manufacturing sectors. Indonesian Deputy Minister of Trade, Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, said both countries have strong potential to deepen their economic ties.

“We are pushing for broader market access for products from both countries so that trade relations become more balanced and mutually beneficial,” Roro said during a meeting with Chile’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Venezian, to discuss market access expansion and optimization of the Indonesia–Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IC‑CEPA) in Jakarta on Friday, August 28, 2026, as quoted on the Ministry’s official website.

Indonesia is promoting exports of processed foods, coffee, cocoa, spices, tropical products, footwear, paper, automotive products, and other manufactured goods to Chile.

Conversely, Indonesia is opening opportunities for Chilean cherries, grapes, berries, and apples, provided they meet sanitation, phytosanitation, food safety, halal certification, and customs requirements.

The implementation of IC‑CEPA has begun to generate concrete transactions. PT Mandala Prima Makmur has exported processed cocoa powder to Alimentos 4M SpA and is exploring business opportunities with E‑Cibo SpA, with potential transactions estimated at USD 739,030 in 2026.

In 2025, IC‑CEPA utilization reached 75.7 percent of Indonesia’s total exports to Chile. The use of Certificates of Origin totaled USD 334.14 million, up 21.36 percent from USD 275.39 million in 2024.

“The IC‑CEPA has provided a strong foundation. We now need to translate this market access into more diversified trade, stronger business‑to‑business relationships, and concrete business opportunities for both countries,” Roro said.

Meanwhile, Chilean Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Venezian, reaffirmed Chile’s commitment to expanding trade in agricultural and food products, including accelerating access for beef and dairy products.

Chile also expressed readiness to meet halal certification requirements, while the Chilean market remains open to ornamental plants from Indonesia.

In 2025, Indonesia’s imports of fresh grapes from Chile reached USD 6.97 million, with a volume of 1,887 metric tons, and received a zero‑percent preferential tariff under IC‑CEPA.

Both countries are also strengthening business ties through the INA‑LAC Business Mission 2026 in Santiago on October 1–2 and the 41st Trade Expo Indonesia on October 14–18, 2026.

Chile further expressed its commitment to enhancing IC‑CEPA implementation and proposed holding the second IC‑CEPA review meeting in Santiago. The meeting is expected to evaluate the agreement’s implementation and identify opportunities to expand trade in goods, services, and investment.

Total Indonesia–Chile trade reached USD 534.9 million in 2025, up 12.26 percent from 2024. Indonesia recorded a USD 346.8 million surplus, with exports of USD 440.8 million and imports of USD 94 million.

From January through June 2026, trade between the two countries reached USD 277.4 million. Indonesia again recorded a surplus of USD 162.2 million, with exports of USD 219.8 million and imports of USD 57.6 million. ***