Minister Airlangga Meets Canadian PM to Strengthen Trade & Investment

RRI.CO.ID, Toronto – Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the inaugural Canada Investment Summit to strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries in Toronto, Canada. Quoted from a written press release on Thursday, September 17, 2026, the meeting took place amid the positive momentum of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Canada, which have continued to strengthen in recent years.

This meeting served as a follow-up to a telephone conversation between President Prabowo Subianto and PM Carney last June, which discussed expanding trade and investment relations between the two nations. The meeting in Toronto also served as momentum to push for the implementation of the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA), which was agreed upon by both countries following a lengthy negotiation process.

Airlangga further expressed appreciation for the completion of the ICA-CEPA ratification process in both countries and hoped that the agreement would soon become effective in the near future, opening a new chapter in Indonesia-Canada trade and investment relations. Once effective, the ICA-CEPA is expected to be immediately and optimally utilized by business actors from both countries, particularly in leading sectors such as food security, energy, and critical minerals.

"We appreciate the convening of this inaugural Canada Investment Summit as a form of the Canadian Government's strong commitment to rallying global investment. Indonesia is ready to be Canada's strategic partner and remains open to expanding cooperation across both nations' key sectors," he said.

In the food and energy sectors, both parties explored cooperation opportunities to strengthen supply resilience, including potential investments in potash to support national fertilizer needs, as well as partnerships in oil and gas. Discussions also included follow-up on critical mineral cooperation pioneered within the framework of the ICA-CEPA, given that both nations are critical mineral producers with a shared interest in building secure and sustainable supply chains.

Additionally, Indonesia hopes that nuclear energy collaboration and the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) ecosystem will continue to be developed. This cooperation aims to support national long-term energy security sustainably.

This meeting marks the deepening relationship between Indonesia and Canada ahead of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year. This momentum is expected to elevate the partnership to a more strategic phase and deliver tangible benefits to both nations.