Wahyu Dwi Anggoro
Furthermore, Japan has committed to broader access for employment and facilitating the placement of skilled workers from Indonesia, not limited to caregivers and nurses.
The IJEPA agreement is Indonesia's first bilateral economic agreement implemented since 2008. Following the Comprehensive Review in 2018, both countries agreed to enhance their bilateral economic relations under a more modern framework through the Protocol Amendment.
This signing marks a historic moment after lengthy and intensive negotiations over five years. The substantive conclusion of the IJEPA Protocol Amendment negotiations was announced by Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo last year.
Japan is Indonesia's fourth largest trading partner. The total trade value over the past five years has increased by 9 persen annually from USD31 billion in 2019 to USD37 billion in 2023. Indonesia has experienced a trade surplus with Japan over the past five years, with a 13 percent increase in the 2019-2023 period. Key Indonesian exports to Japan include coal, copper ores, nickel, electrical equipment, natural rubber, agricultural products, plywood, and paper products. (Wahyu Dwi Anggoro)
