JAKARTA - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto told the World Economic Forum on Thursday, January 22, that his country signed multiple trade deals last year with major economies, positioning the archipelago as a champion of free trade in an era of protectionism.

"Last year, we signed free trade agreements and comprehensive economic partnership agreements with Europe, the EU, Canada, Peru, Eurasia," Prabowo said, adding that he just visited the UK to finalize a strategic partnership and economic growth agreement.

Indonesia completed negotiations with Canada on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in December 2024, with the deal officially signed on 24 September 2025, though it has yet to enter into force pending ratification. 

The EU–Indonesia trade agreement was finalised on 23 September 2025 and similarly awaits ratification, likely coming into effect around 2027. Indonesia and Peru signed their CEPA on 11 August 2025, concluding negotiations that had been underway for over a year. Meanwhile, the Indonesia–Eurasian Economic Union free trade agreement was signed on 21 December 2025.

But the EU agreement, once ratified, will eliminate tariffs on 98 percent of goods traded between Indonesia and the 27-nation bloc, which totaled €27.3 billion in 2024. The EAEU pact covers 90.5 percent of tariff lines for trade that reached $4.4 billion through October 2025.

With the UK, Prabowo secured a strategic partnership and $5.4 billion in investment commitments during his London visit days before Davos. The centerpiece is a $4 billion maritime program to build 1,582 fishing vessels in Indonesia, creating an estimated 600,000 jobs.

"We believe trade integration, when done fairly, is not a threat to sovereignty," Prabowo said. "We believe trade is a tool for prosperity."

Prabowo said that Indonesia aims to complete a comprehensive trade agreement with the UK next year. The country has also been negotiating bilateral deals with India, Turkey, and Tunisia while updating existing pacts with Japan and Pakistan.

Trade between Indonesia and the UK reached $1.8 billion from January through August 2025, with Indonesia running a $327.8 million surplus.