Vladivostok (The Indonesian News)— President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto has urged that the Free Trade Agreement between Indonesia and the Eurasian Economic Union (Indonesia–Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement/Indonesia-EAEU FTA) be implemented immediately and utilized to strengthen trade relations between Indonesia and Russia.
“Indonesia wants this agreement to take effect and be utilized as soon as possible, right after the exchange of notifications allows it,” President Prabowo said while attending the 11th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) as the main guest of honor, held at Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) in Vladivostok on Thursday (September 3).
The Indonesia-EAEU FTA is a free trade agreement between Indonesia and the Eurasian economic bloc, which includes Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. This agreement was signed by the member states and the Eurasian Economic Commission in St. Petersburg on December 21, 2025.
The agreement covers the elimination or reduction of import duties for 11,882 tariff lines, covering more than 90 percent of goods traded between Indonesia and EAEU member states.
Indonesia has completed its parliamentary approval process, with Commission VI of the DPR RI granting approval for the Indonesia-EAEU FTA. In July, President Prabowo Subianto also signed the Presidential Regulation ratifying the agreement.
“I respectfully request that each EAEU member state complete their internal procedures so that we can take advantage of this agreement as soon as possible,” he continued.
According to President Prabowo, this agreement represents a new trade architecture for developing countries (Global South). This agreement will also open access for Indonesian producers to market their products to five markets in the Eurasian region.
Conversely, producers from EAEU member states will also gain access to market their products to more than 290 million Indonesian consumers.
Representatives from the Indonesian business community were also present at the Forum to realize the first shipment, identify potential buyers, ensure logistics readiness, and establish payment schemes in accordance with the provisions of the FTA.
Indonesia hopes that after the FTA tariff scheme takes effect, all goods, distribution channels, buyers, and trade contracts will be ready to be involved in its implementation.
Meanwhile, President Prabowo specifically encouraged Indonesia and Russia to double their bilateral trade value through this EAEU FTA scheme.
“At this Forum, I encourage Indonesia and Russia to set a clear target—to double our trade value in the initial evaluation of the EAEU FTA implementation,” Prabowo said to forum participants and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
The bilateral trade value between Indonesia and Russia in 2025 approached USD5 billion, approximately USD4.8 billion, increasing by 21.7 percent compared to the previous year. Indonesia hopes that economic relations between the two countries will continue to show positive trends going forward, both bilaterally and through participation in the EAEU FTA.
Meanwhile, President Prabowo’s presence at the annual international economic meeting hosted by Russia was in response to an invitation from President Vladimir Putin. This forum not only attracts investment into Russia’s Far East region but also aims to strengthen trade relations with countries in Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.
This is the second time President Prabowo has attended a Russian economic forum. In June 2025, President Prabowo also attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) as a guest of honor.
Source: Press Release of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom) of the Republic of Indonesia
