In the framework of strengthening the comprehensive economic cooperation between the two sides, the recent visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to the UAE came, and there was a discussion about the way of developing strategic relations between the two countries, within the comprehensive framework. the economic cooperation that brings them together and the common desire to continue pushing forward in a way that helps both countries achieve their vision of sustainable development and prosperity.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the State, may God protect him, the President of Indonesia appreciated the development of relations between the two countries and the prosperity of their cooperation. He expressed his gratitude for having worked with President Joko Widodo in recent years to promote bilateral cooperation between the UAE and Indonesia and their common interests: “Praise be to God… we have been able to achieve qualitative achievements along the way, whether in the fields of renewable energy, trade, food security, infrastructure, transport, education, health, climate action, etc.
In fact, monitoring the development path of UAE-Indonesia relations in the last decade shows the development of these relations. In 2014, the volume of non-oil trade between the two countries was 2.7 billion dollars, which reached last year. 4.4 billion dollars, and the value of the trade exchange between them in 2023 the two countries exceeded 16 billion dirhams, a growth rate of 7.2% compared to 2022. In total, the trade exchange between the two countries exceeded the limit. 100 million dirhams in 10 years.
The Comprehensive Agreement for Economic Cooperation between the two countries in 2022, which entered into force in September 2023, was a qualitative turning point, helping to expand the horizons of economic cooperation and serving the common development of the UAE and Indonesia. in this context, the UAE is the first country in the region to be linked with Indonesia in this partnership.
Undoubtedly, this great development seen in the relations between the UAE and Indonesia is driven by the desire of both countries to strengthen these relations and bring bilateral cooperation to the best level, in order to achieve their common strategic interests. In addition to the outstanding relations that include His Highness the President of the State, the Supreme President of Indonesia.
Several factors led to this great development seen in the relations between the UAE and Indonesia, and three main factors can be specifically highlighted: First, there are common interests in the issues of renewable energy, the environment and climate action, and also the areas of trade and investment. The second factor is that both countries represent true models of tolerance. The society of the UAE is incredibly diverse, but everyone lives in harmony despite being a pluralistic society, an archipelago that includes more than 17 islands and whose inhabitants speak more than 700 languages. This society includes multiple ethnicities in the current phase of common concern.
Following the path of cooperation in various fields, during the visit many important agreements were signed in areas that represent the priorities of sustainable development in both countries, including a cooperation agreement for the installation of solar energy systems on the roofs of industrial and commercial facilities. Indonesia, a memorandum of understanding on general budget management and a memorandum of understanding between the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and the Central Bank of Indonesia on intelligent systems, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, and an agreement between the Dubai International Financial Center and the Nusantara Financial Authority -memory.
Emirati-Indonesian relations have seen continuous development, following a common consensus between the interests and policies of both sides, the President of Indonesia to the Emirates.
*Provided by the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research.
