Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. Prabowo – Erdogan meeting, which took place at the Bogor Presidential Palace, was attended by Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono and several other key cabinet members.
Sugiono emphasized the importance of this bilateral meeting in strengthening the relationship between Indonesia and Turkey.
“This meeting addresses strategic cooperation that can have a positive impact on the progress of both countries,” said Sugiono, as quoted by metrotvnews.com.
In his speech, Prabowo expressed Indonesia’s intention to solidify its ties with Turkey, particularly in economic cooperation, with a strong focus on trade. Prabowo highlighted Indonesia’s concern over the high tariffs on its exports to Turkey due to the absence of a trade agreement.
“Let us finalize the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to strengthen Indonesia-Turkey economic cooperation,” he urged during a press statement following the High-Level Strategic Council meeting at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, as reported by rmol.id.
Prabowo emphasized the need for both nations to work toward balanced and mutually beneficial trade relations. As part of this effort, both leaders agreed to expand market access for products from Indonesia and Turkey.
Prabowo also sought Erdogan’s support for Indonesia’s collaboration with Turkish companies in joint ventures and joint production in the defense industry. The Indonesian president mentioned ongoing and future collaborations with Turkish firms such as Roketsan, Aselsan, Havelsan, and Baykar.
“We are committed to participating seriously in programs developed alongside Turkey,” Prabowo stated firmly.
Key Outcomes of the Prabowo-Erdogan Meeting
Prabowo – Erdogan reached several agreements during the High-Level Strategic Council meeting, with discussions described as “intensive and productive.” Both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening their partnership.
In the economic and trade sectors, the two nations committed to increasing mutually beneficial trade and expediting the finalization of the CEPA. Additionally, the meeting resulted in the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) around 1:45 PM Jakarta time, covering areas from education to defense.
Here are the key agreements between the Indonesian and Turkish governments, as reported by bisnis.com:
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs on cooperation in religious services and education.
- An MoU between Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and Turkey’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources in the field of energy and mineral resources.
- An MoU on higher education cooperation between Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology and Turkey’s Council of Higher Education.
- An agreement on health and medical sciences collaboration between the governments of Indonesia and Turkey.
- An MoU on strategic defense industry cooperation between Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense and Turkey’s Presidential Defense Industry Secretariat.
- An MoU between the Ministries of Trade of Indonesia and Turkey on enhancing trade cooperation.
- An MoU on agricultural cooperation between the governments of Indonesia and Turkey.
- A Letter of Intent between the two governments on investment promotion and facilitation.
- An MoU between Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry and Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology to establish a joint industrial cooperation committee.
- A joint venture agreement between Republikorp and Baykar for establishing a drone factory in Indonesia.
- A cooperation protocol between Turkish Radio Television Corporation (TRT) and Indonesia’s public broadcasting network TVRI in television broadcasting.
- An MoU between TRT and Indonesia’s public radio broadcaster RRI in radio broadcasting.
- A cooperation agreement between Anadolu Agency and Indonesia’s national news agency Antara.
International Relations Highlights
In international relations, Prabowo – Erdogan agreed, both countries reaffirmed their shared stance on finding peaceful solutions to conflicts in Palestine, Syria, Ukraine, and Russia. Regarding Palestine, Indonesia and Turkey expressed their continued support for the two-state solution.
“I am delighted that this visit has been very productive. President Erdogan’s visit marks a new chapter in our strategic partnership and will serve as a historical milestone toward the 100th anniversary of Indonesia-Turkey relations in 2050,” Prabowo concluded.
Source: metrotvnews.com, rmol.id, bisnis.com, liputan6.com
Special Photo credit: ANTARA/Livia Kristianti
