Indonesia Calls on Eurasian Economic Union Countries to Ratify Free Trade Deal

RRI.CO.ID, Vladivostok – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, mentioned Indonesia's agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) during the 11th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, on Thursday, September 3, 2026. He called on Russia and other EAEU countries to ratify the agreement "as soon as possible".

EAEU is an intergovernmental organization that seeks economic integration in the Eurasian region. Founded in 2014, the union primarily consists of post-Soviet countries: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.

The Indonesia-EAEU Free Trade Agreement was signed by Indonesia, EAEU members, and the Eurasian Economic Commission in St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 21, 2025. Expected to be in effect by 2027, it reduces import duties on 90% of products from those countries and opens the Eurasian market to Indonesia’s more than 290 million people.

Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) approved the ratification of the agreement last July. The same month, Prabowo signed the presidential regulation, ratifying the deal.

"Here, in this forum, I propose that Indonesia and Russia set a clear challenge for ourselves to double our trade within the first review period of the Indonesian-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement," Prabowo said in the forum, before the Russian President Vladimir Putin and forum participants.

In connection with the deal, Prabowo then explained that the "peace dividend" has now been enjoyed by the Southeast Asian countries thanks to their willingness to cooperate within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Though Southeast Asia has experienced conflict, tension, and differences, he said leaders recognized that the need to create opportunity is greater than their interests, as well as other problems such as poverty and inadequate infrastructure.

"For almost six decades, that choice has created a peace dividend. Farmers can produce, factories can operate, ships can sail, businesses can invest, children can go to school, families can plan for the future," Prabowo said.

"Indonesia now invites Russia and every EAEU member to help extend that peace dividend by connecting Eurasia more closely with Southeast Asia," he said.

Prabowo said Indonesia states its intention to make the agreement in force and in use, as soon as the exchange of notification allows. Thus, he begged EAEU countries to ratify the deal, towards its implementation next year.

"Indonesia wants this agreement in force and in use, as soon as the exchange of notification allows. I respectfully call on every EAEU member state to complete its internal procedures so that we can make use of this agreement as soon as possible," he said.