Indonesia Expands Global Trade Access, Singapore Reportedly Uncomfortable
DJabar.com – The government has reaffirmed Indonesia’s increasingly strategic position in the global trade landscape, driven by its aggressive push to open new markets and deepen involvement in international trade agreements. However, these moves have not been entirely welcomed by all countries, with Singapore reportedly feeling uneasy about Indonesia’s growing economic expansion.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that, based on a study by a Swiss-based company, Indonesia is listed as one of the countries with the most extensive market-opening agendas worldwide in 2025. The government has been assessed as actively expanding its trade networks across multiple regions, ranging from Europe to North America.
Indonesia has successfully finalized Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations with the European Union and Canada. In addition, the government is preparing a memorandum of understanding as an initial step toward a CEPA with the United Kingdom. These efforts complement existing trade cooperation frameworks such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which involves ASEAN countries and key partners including China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
According to Airlangga, nearly all global markets are now open to Indonesia through both bilateral and regional cooperation mechanisms. This development places Indonesia at the forefront among ASEAN countries in international trade competition. Indonesia has also entered the circle of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and is currently undergoing a technical review process, with Thailand reportedly following a similar path.
Despite this progress, Indonesia still lags behind some neighboring countries—such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam—in terms of participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Airlangga noted that Singapore does not fully support Indonesia’s inclusion in all free trade schemes, and the government has observed indications of efforts to hinder Indonesia’s progress in this sector, although the nature of such interference was not elaborated in detail.
Nevertheless, amid geopolitical dynamics and regional competition, the government emphasized that market access expansion will continue in line with directives from President Prabowo Subianto. Indonesia is considered to be firmly positioned on the main track as one of the world’s leading alternative growth economies, ranking second only to China. This advantage is further reinforced by the competitiveness of Indonesia’s energy sector, which is viewed as stronger than that of several other countries in the region.
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