By Hendrik Yaputra
Copyright tempo
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto continued his official working visit in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, following a series of high-level meetings in Ottawa, Canada.According to a statement from the Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau, Prabowo departed Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport at 09:00 PM local time en route to the Netherlands.During his stay in Canada, the President met with Governor General Mary Simon at Rideau Hall and Prime Minister Mark Carney at the West Block, Parliament Hill.Prabowo expressed appreciation for Canada’s longstanding role as a development partner, while PM Carney highlighted Indonesia’s strategic importance in Southeast Asia, citing Prabowo’s recent UN General Assembly speech as a source of inspiration.The discussions between Prabowo and PM Carney produced three major agreements covering trade, defense, and business collaboration.The first milestone was the signing of the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA) by Indonesia’s Minister of Trade and Canada’s Minister of International Trade.Prabowo emphasized the strategic value of ICA-CEPA, describing it as a historic step that strengthens both political and economic ties between the two nations.According to the Presidential Secretariat, ICA-CEPA ensures legal certainty and expands market access. Canada has committed to removing 90.5 percent of import tariffs on Indonesian goods, while Indonesia will liberalize 85.8 percent of its tariff lines.The agreement is projected to boost Indonesian exports to Canada to US$11.8 billion by 2030, contribute an additional 0.12 percent to national GDP, and increase investment by 0.38 percent.Beyond economic growth, ICA-CEPA also provides regulatory transparency, investment protection, and strengthens cooperation in MSME empowerment, digital marketplaces, intellectual property rights, and sustainable trade.Prabowo and Carney also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense and Canada’s National Defense Department.The agreement builds on a previous MoU signed in August 2025 and expands bilateral defense collaboration, including Canada’s participation in the Super Garuda Shield exercises, regular defense dialogues, and long-term development of the military industry.President Prabowo expressed his hopes for deeper engagement in the defense sector: “We want to send more of our youth here to study, be trained, and collaborate in the defense sector in the future,” he said.Finally, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in commerce, trade, and investment was signed between the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) and the Business Council of Canada (BCC).The MoU aims to promote stronger business partnerships and investment opportunities between the two countries.Editor’s Choice: Indonesian Police Name 959 Suspects, Including 295 Children, in August 2025 RiotsClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
