Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Indonesia and Uzbekistan are set to kick off negotiations for the Indonesia-Uzbekistan Preferential Trade Agreement, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral economic ties.

Minister of Trade Budi Santoso emphasized on Tuesday (11/2/2025) that Uzbekistan, with its 36.5 million population, presents a promising market for Indonesia’s export expansion. 

“This is a concrete step in the Ministry of Trade’s priority program to broaden export markets,” he said, as quoted by antaranews.com.

During a meeting in Jakarta with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor O. Saidov, Minister Budi also urged Uzbekistan to finalize the Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment, an initiative agreed upon in 2021.

Indonesia reiterated its support for Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), having concluded market access negotiations for goods and services. 

With bilateral trade growing 49.04% over the past five years, both nations are poised to enhance their economic cooperation, tapping into new trade opportunities across various sectors.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)