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View all search resultsPrabowo hails ‘gamechanging’ trade deal with Canada
With the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries, Indonesia became the first Southeast Asian nation to have such a trade deal with Canada amid the United States’ transformation of its trade ties
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (second right) shakes hands with Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu (right) as President Prabowo Subianto (second left) and Trade Minister Budi Santoso look on during the signing of the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA) on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sept. 24, 2025. (AFP/Dave Chan)
D
uring his first state visit to Canada, President Prabowo Subianto announced a landmark agreement on trade that is expected to eliminate most trade tariffs between the North American country and Indonesia, and advance investment in critical sectors.
Flying from New York City in the United States following his debut at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Prabowo arrived at the Canadian capital of Ottawa on Wednesday noon local time. He was accompanied by Investment and Downstreaming Minister Rosan Roeslani and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
Prabowo began his one-day itinerary with a meeting with Canadian Governor-General Mary Simon at the Rideau Hill official residence. The two discussed their shared commitment to democracy, pluralism and multiculturalism, while also stressing the importance of deepening economic, educational and cultural ties.
The President later moved to Parliament Hill for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, where Prabowo praised Canada’s posture on the global stage and affirmed Jakarta’s willingness to push cooperation with that country.
“We consider Canada to be a very responsible, mature leading power of the West, but with a great empathy for the concerns of the developing nations [and] the Global South,” Prabowo said, also noting Ottawa’s role in poverty alleviation, health, agriculture and fisheries programs.
He also offered his apologies for missing Carney’s invitation to attend the Group of Seven (G7) Global South forum in June, reassuring the Canadian leader on Jakarta’s commitment to working further with Ottawa.
Describing the Indonesia-Canada relationship as “strategic”, the President then announced the signing of the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA), deemed an important move for the two countries’ economies and politics.
