Indonesia and New Zealand Ready to Expand Partnership Opportunities

Jakarta, Indonesianpost.com – Reported by Antara, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, met with New Zealand’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Trade, and Investment, Todd McClay, on the sidelines of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris to explore new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, Hartarto highlighted Indonesia’s efforts to increase access to tropical fruit exports, including pineapples, which have already found success in the New Zealand market. Other Indonesian horticultural products such as bananas, mangoes, and papayas are currently in the process of gaining market access.

“We hope that New Zealand will open even wider access for Indonesian tropical fruits,” Hartarto said in a statement on Wednesday (June 4).

In 2024, trade between Indonesia and New Zealand was valued at US$1.92 billion, with New Zealand’s investment in Indonesia reaching US$26 million in the same year. Both countries aim to raise the bilateral trade value to 6 billion New Zealand dollars by 2029 through a comprehensive joint action plan.

The two ministers also discussed the impact of the United States’ 10 percent universal tariff policy, which affects New Zealand’s agricultural and industrial products. In response, Indonesia initiated intensive dialogues, offering investment packages and exploring cooperation in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and strategic technology.

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Cooperation in geothermal energy was another key area of discussion, with New Zealand providing more than 15 million New Zealand dollars in grants to support clean energy development in Indonesia. Additionally, efforts to facilitate the export of halal products were discussed, with an emphasis on halal certification.

Labor exchange was also on the agenda. The ministers discussed the work visa scheme for Indonesian workers in New Zealand, which is already in place and should be utilized more effectively. They also reviewed the possibility of establishing a Working Holiday program to strengthen social and cultural ties.

On the international front, Indonesia is advancing its efforts to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). New Zealand has expressed full support for Indonesia’s accession to both organizations, which is expected to accelerate economic reforms and enhance Indonesia’s global standing.

“Indonesia has submitted an Initial Memorandum on June 3, 2025, marking a significant step toward OECD accession. We have also submitted a questionnaire for the CPTPP. We hope New Zealand will continue supporting these strategic efforts,” Hartarto emphasized.

The meeting also highlighted the growing strategic partnership between Indonesia and New Zealand, which goes beyond trade relations. The two ministers discussed McClay’s planned visit to Indonesia in July and preparations for the postponed state visit of New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon. (BL)