On July 30, 2024, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister visited Auckland for the 11th Joint Ministerial Commission meeting with New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.
This visit, marking 66 years of diplomatic ties, focused on strengthening the partnership between the two nations.
Discussions covered various bilateral and regional issues, reflecting the strong bonds and shared interests of Indonesia and New Zealand.
Topics for Discussion
The Joint Ministerial Commission meeting highlighted six main areas of cooperation:
- People-to-People Contact: Emphasizing cultural and educational exchanges, the two nations finalized an amendment to the Education Arrangement and discussed a Working Holiday Scheme. This initiative aims to foster greater interaction and understanding between their citizens, enriching the bilateral relationship.
- Trade and Economic Cooperation: Despite recent challenges, both ministers expressed a commitment to revitalizing economic ties. The newly launched Plan of Action for 2025-2029 sets an ambitious target of achieving NZ$6 billion in annual two-way trade by 2029. Key areas of focus include trade in halal products and enhancing investment opportunities. The signing of a quarantine arrangement is expected to boost agricultural trade, and there is potential expansion of the Regional Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme to increase the number of Indonesian workers in New Zealand.
- Development Cooperation: The ministers discussed enhancing development cooperation, particularly in support of Indonesia’s Medium Development Plan and the country’s transition towards its Golden Vision 2045. Ongoing projects in the geothermal sector were highlighted as critical to Indonesia’s sustainable energy goals.
- Security and Defence: The meeting reaffirmed the commitment to regional security, including cooperation on counter-terrorism and maritime security. The ministers agreed to hold regular Defence Ministers’ meetings and increase joint exercises to bolster defence cooperation.
- Human Rights: Dialogue on human rights continues to be a significant aspect of the bilateral relationship, with Indonesia’s recent election to the Human Rights Council for 2024-2026 underscoring the importance of this issue.
- Environmental Cooperation: The two countries are exploring further collaboration in renewable energy and environmental conservation. A planned MoU in September will focus on renewable energy and energy conservation, supporting Indonesia’s goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2060.
Joint Statement and Future Plans
Following the meeting, the ministers issued a joint statement emphasizing the importance of their partnership, coinciding with the International Day of Friendship. They celebrated the 66-year milestone of their diplomatic relationship, highlighting the strong bond between the two nations.
The new Plan of Action for 2025-2029 was launched, aiming to intensify cooperation across various sectors.
The targets/goals include:
- Trade Target: Achieving NZ$6 billion in annual two-way trade by 2029, reflecting a commitment to expand economic cooperation.
- Sector Cooperation: Collaboration in various sectors, including trade, investment, education, and halal products, to strengthen economic ties.
- Development Support: Supporting Indonesia’s development goals, particularly its Medium Development Plan and transition towards Golden Vision 2045.
- Security and Defence: Enhancing security cooperation, including counter-terrorism efforts and maritime security, through regular Defence Ministers’ meetings and joint exercises.
- Cultural and Educational Exchanges: Bolstering people-to-people connections, including the establishment of a Working Holiday Scheme to facilitate cultural exchanges and strengthen ties between citizens of both nations.
Conclusion and Future Plans
The visit concluded with the signing of the Plan of Action for the Indonesia–New Zealand Comprehensive Partnership for 2025-2029, outlining priority areas for future cooperation.
This comprehensive partnership underscores the deep and multifaceted relationship between the two nations, promising continued collaboration on economic, security, and environmental issues.
