Chile Ready to Become Indonesia's Strategic Economic Partner in South America

Jakarta, INTI - During the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Meeting, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto held a bilateral meeting with Chile's Deputy Minister of Trade, Claudia Sanhueza, in Paris, France, on Friday (3/05). The meeting discussed various economic cooperation issues between the two countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Chile's Deputy Minister of Trade praised Indonesia's rapid progress in the OECD accession process. "Based on our experience, Chile took five years to submit the accession roadmap, while Indonesia took less than a year," said Deputy Minister Sanhueza. Furthermore, Chile pledged to support Indonesia in accelerating this accession process through the exchange of information and experiences.

Both parties also welcomed the benefits of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed by both countries since 2018. "Chile is Indonesia's first FTA partner in South America. Therefore, this agreement can serve as a model for Indonesia's partnership with other countries in the region," said Minister Airlangga.

Deputy Minister Sanhueza also positively commented on the Protocol on Trade in Services signed in 2023. Some service sectors of interest to Chile include construction, engineering, transportation, logistics, and professional services.

"As a country committed to an open economic principle, Chile continues to promote the openness of the trade regime in the service sector. We believe that services are a promising new economic sector and will have a positive impact on both parties," concluded Chile's Deputy Minister.

Regarding economic agreements, Minister Airlangga expressed Indonesia's interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Chile also welcomed this intention and shared its experiences regarding the benefits gained from joining the trade bloc.

In this meeting, Minister Airlangga was accompanied by Indonesia's Vice Minister of Trade, the Deputy for International Economic Cooperation Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, and the Assistant Deputy for Economic Cooperation in the Americas and the Pacific of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs. Meanwhile, Chile's Deputy Minister of Trade was accompanied by several officials and staff members.