INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta, Indonesia and Uzbekistan agreed to strengthen the foundation of bilateral economic cooperation amid increasing global economic uncertainty and various international trade challenges. This commitment was raised in the follow-up bilateral meeting to the establishment of Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade and Investment Cooperation which took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Tuesday (6/16).
Deputy Minister of Trade RI Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri affirmed that collaboration with strategic partners is one of the keys to building a stronger and more sustainable economic resilience.
“Indonesia views Uzbekistan as a major strategic partner as well as an important economic center in the Central Asian region. Deepening trade and investment relations between the two countries will help create a more balanced trade architecture and a more resilient value chain," said Roro.
Optimism about the prospects for economic relations between the two countries is supported by trade trends that continue to show improvement. The trade value of Indonesia and Uzbekistan in 2025 reached USD 181.4 million, an increase of almost 23 percent compared to the previous year. In the last five years, bilateral trade turnover grew by about 49 percent.
During the meeting, the two sides also discussed the development of the Indonesia-Uzbekistan Free Trade Agreement (IU-FTA). According to Roro, the official launch of the IU-FTA negotiations on March 2, 2026 became an important milestone reflecting the strong commitment of the two countries in expanding economic cooperation.
The agreement is considered to have strategic value because it will connect the largest economy in Southeast Asia with one of the fastest growing economies in Central Asia. In addition, Uzbekistan's position in the Eurasian strategic route opens up greater opportunities for Indonesian products to reach the Central Asian market and the surrounding region.
On the other hand, Indonesia can be a gateway for Uzbekistan to access the dynamic and growing ASEAN market.
As a further step, Indonesia hopes that technical discussions on the Framework of Reference for negotiations can begin immediately before the first official roundofIU-FTA is held. The Indonesian government also expressed readiness to submit an initial draft of the Framework of Reference as the basis for discussion.
In the investment sector, Indonesia welcomes the increasing interest of Uzbek investors who in recent years have shown a significant growth trend.
The government encourages the two countries to strengthen collaboration between investment authorities and business actors to open new opportunities in various strategic sectors.
Sectors that are the focus include agriculture, fertilizer, manufacturing, renewable energy, tourism, halal industry, to the digital economy.
Roro also emphasized the importance of empowering (UKM) small and medium enterprises as one of the pillars of bilateral cooperation. According to him, support for UKM needs to be strengthened in order to be able to increase capacity and competitiveness in the global market.
"Business-to-business collaboration is an engine of growth that is able to translate government commitments into concrete business cooperation and economic value," he said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Ibrohim Ergashev, proposed that the first meeting of JWG at the level of senior officials be held immediately to discuss various cooperation agendas more comprehensively, especially in the field of trade in goods, services, and investment.
She also expressed support for strengthening collaboration in the empowerment of UMKM, including capacity building and market access for women business actors in both countries.
Trade data shows Uzbekistan is currently the 103rd non-oil export destination and the 58th non-oil import source for Indonesia. In 2025, the two countries' total trade reached USD 181.4 million, with Indonesian exports amounting to USD 72.6 million and imports amounting to USD 108.8 million.
Indonesia's main export products to Uzbekistan include margarine, animal and vegetable oils and fats, copra coconut oil, soap, organic surface active products, and uncoated paper and cardboard.
Meanwhile, Indonesia imports potassium-based fertilizers, fiber pulp, unforged aluminum, electrical machinery and equipment, and various types of insulated cables from Uzbekistan.
