Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and her visiting Angolan counterpart Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti agreed to step up relations between the two countries in various fields with emphasis on trade and commerce.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (R) and her Angolan counterpart, Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti (Photo: jakartaglobe/Sheany)
Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudiand her visiting Angolan counterpart Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti agreed tostep up relations between the two countries in various fields with emphasis ontrade and commerce.
The two foreign ministers met in Jakarta on April 11 during MinisterChikoti’s visit from April 10-12, Indonesia news agency, Antara News, reportedon the same day.
Minister Marsudi underlined that although the trade volume between the twocountries had increased in 2011-2015, it had declined to 192.8 million USD lastyear due to the fall in global oil prices.
Hence, the two countries could outline the efforts needed to improvetrade cooperation.
Indonesia proposed the establishment of a preferential trade agreementthat received a positive response from the Angolan finance minister.
Indonesia has been shipping to Angola crude palm oil, motor vehicles,cosmetics, paper and footwear.
The island country is ready to renew several cooperation agreements inthe energy sector. Angola is a potential market for products of Indonesia’sstrategic industry that are offered by the state-owned weapons manufacturer PTPindad, state-owned shipyard PT Pal, states aerospace company PT DI, andRailway Company PT Inka.
During the bilateral meeting, the two sides signed three memoranda ofunderstanding (MoU) on cooperation in visa exemption for the holders ofdiplomatic or service passports, in the economic, scientific, technical andcultural areas, and on political consultation between the Indonesian Ministryof Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of External Relations of Angola.
Indonesia also lauded the Angolan government’s plan to open an embassyin Jakarta and its support to Indonesia’s candidacy for a UN Security Councilseat in the 2019-2020 period.-VNA
Saudi Arabian Sultan Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud held talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at Bogor Palace in Jakarta and witnessed the signing of a range of cooperation deals on March 1.
The Republic of Korea and Indonesia have agreed to extend a currency swap deal for another three years as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral financial cooperation.
Indonesia and Chile have resumed negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) after two-year delay, reported Indonesian newspaper Jakarta Post.
Tourism cooperation potential between Vietnam and Indonesia was highlighted at the programme “Indonesia Tourism Table Top in Vietnam 2017”, held by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and the Indonesian Embassy in Hanoi on April 5.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (R) and her Angolan counterpart, Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti (Photo: jakartaglobe/Sheany) 
