Canadian Ambassador Confident Relations Between Indonesia-Canada to Improve Under Prabowo Govt

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia Jess Dutton assured that positive bilateral relations between Indonesia and Canada will continue to develop under elected president Prabowo Subianto. This was marked by the arrival of Canadian trade missions to Jakarta.

At Canada's birthday event in South Jakarta on Wednesday evening, July 3, 2024, Dutton said that Prabowo had spoken by telephone with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau some time ago, and this was said to be the basis for continuing positive relations between the two countries.

Indonesia and Canada are working together on several matters, including negotiating the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and climate change solutions. Dutton revealed that Canada will also lead a trade mission to Indonesia in the near future.

"I think the President-Elect is very pleased because, not long after he is inaugurated, Canada will be leading a major trade mission to Indonesia," he told reporters. “So, I think this positive relationship will only continue to grow and develop with a new president and his new cabinet in place at the end of this year.”

President-elect Prabowo Subianto and vice-president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka are expected to take office in October 2024. Meanwhile, Canada's trade mission to Indonesia and neighboring Philippines will take place from December 1 - 6, 2024, led by Mary Ng as Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development.

The Canadian government says the trade mission is open to companies from all sectors, but will focus on agriculture and processed food, clean technology, clean energy, green mining, information and communications technology, to infrastructure (nuclear, smart cities and airport technology).

Indonesia is Canada's third largest trading partner in ASEAN. In 2023, two-way trade in goods between Canada and Indonesia will amount to CA$5.1 billion. Canadian merchandise exports to Indonesia are valued at CA$2.3 billion, making it the largest Canadian export market in ASEAN.

Canada and Indonesia are currently working on the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or ICA-CEPA. The eighth round of ICA-CEPA negotiations took place in Ottawa, Canada on June 24 - 28.

NABIILA AZZAHRA

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