Arusha, Tanzania, June 27, 2025 – The East African Business Council (EABC) welcomed a delegation from Indonesia, led by H.E. Tri Yogo Jatmiko, Ambassador of Indonesia accredited to the East African Community (EAC) to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation. The discussions focused on strengthening trade and investment ties between the EAC, the Republic of Indonesia, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
H.E. Tri Yogo Jatmiko stated statistics show the EAC exported goods worth USD 200 million to Indonesia while importing USD 600 million. With Indonesia’s population of approximately 280 million and its position as ASEAN’s largest economy,
Mr. Adrian Njau, Acting Executive Director of EABC, emphasized EABC’s commitment to collaborating with Indonesian private sector associations to bolster trade and investment relations.
He elaborated there is immense potential for mutually beneficial trade agreements to improve market access for EAC commodities in Indonesia and diversify Indonesian imports partners.
EABC is keen to put forward private sector proposals to enhance EAC’s market access to Indonesia. He also highlighted the East African Business and Investment Summit & Expo 2025, scheduled for October 16–17, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya, as a key opportunity for Indonesian investors to explore business prospects in the region. https://eabc-online.com/businesssummit2025
Indonesia maintains embassies in Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and Somalia, providing strategic entry points for deepening trade engagement with the EAC. A notable investment includes a USD 1.4 billion fertilizer plant in Mtwara, Tanzania, which will utilize natural gas to produce 1 million tonnes of urea fertilizer annually. This project is poised to boost local fertilizer production, reduce import reliance, and enhance food security across the region. These growing investments underscore the need for a comprehensive trade and investment agreement between Indonesia and the EAC.
Key Areas of Cooperation
- Business Profiling: Strengthen verification and credibility of businesses in the EAC and Indonesia to foster trust and collaboration.
- Enhanced Market Access: Improve EAC access to the Indonesian market to address the trade deficit and diversify import sources.
- Private Sector Collaboration: Formalize partnerships with Indonesian private sector associations through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate trade ties.
- Knowledge Sharing: Leverage Indonesia’s expertise in ASEAN regional integration to boost intra-EAC trade and investment.
- Technology Transfer: Promote Indonesian technology sharing in priority sectors, including manufacturing, mining, and agricultural productivity.
- Joint Working Group: Engage EABC in the EAC-Indonesia Joint Working Group to provide technical support and enhance bilateral trade.
- Summit Participation: Encourage Indonesian participation in the East African Business and Investment Summit & Expo 2025 to explore regional opportunities.
The Indonesian Ambassador was accompanied by Dewi Justica Meidiwaty, Director of African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia; Yully Yudhantari Saputri, Second Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia; and Michael Bastian Supit, First Secretary, Embassy of Indonesia.
