inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Trade Minister Budi Santoso and New Zealand's Minister of Trade and Investment Todd Michael McClay explored various collaboration opportunities in priority sectors, such as food and agriculture, geothermal energy, and the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Minister Budi says this collaboration will strengthen economic resilience and expand the benefits of trade for the community of the two countries.
"We see great potential for collaboration in the food and renewable energy sectors, as well as support for MSMEs to penetrate international markets," said the Indonesian Trade Minister on Friday (8/8/2025).
The meeting between the two ministers also highlighted the global trade situation and conditions, particularly unilateral tariff policies against several countries and their impact on businesses in the region.
The Trade Minister stated that Indonesia and New Zealand agree that business certainty is a crucial element in maintaining the stability and sustainability of international trade.
Furthermore, the two ministers' discussion also addressed bilateral trade targets. He is optimistic that Indonesia and New Zealand can achieve the bilateral trade target of 6 billion New Zealand dollars, equivalent to 3.6 billion US dollars, by 2029.
"This can be achieved, among other things, by maximizing various existing international trade agreements, such as the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)," he explained.
Meanwhile, Minister McClay expressed his hope that Indonesia and New Zealand will continue to support each other and strengthen their existing cooperation, particularly in addressing global dynamics.
"We appreciate the cooperation we have established with Indonesia and hope this partnership can be part of the solution amidst global trade uncertainty," said Minister McClay.
From January-June 2025, total trade between the two countries reached US$963.23 million, up 21.56 percent compared to the same period last year, which was US$792.39 million.
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