Thailand and Indonesia Aim for $23B Trade and Boost Security Ties

The Thai government reported a highly productive discussion between Thai leadership and Indonesian President Prabowo, with both nations agreeing to accelerate bilateral trade to reach $23 billion, roughly 7.6 trillion rupiah, by 2030, up from the current $19.5 billion. The Thai Prime Minister affirmed Thailand's commitment to being a reliable economic partner, focusing on agricultural trade to ensure food security and inviting Indonesian businesses to invest in Thailand as a mainland ASEAN hub.

Furthermore, both governments agreed to promote the halal industry by combining Indonesia's massive Muslim consumer market with Thailand's advanced production standards and product quality. In terms of national security, the two countries pledged to elevate cooperation against transnational crime, specifically human trafficking, online scams, and drug smuggling, through intelligence sharing and coordinated law enforcement.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

President Prabowo expressed sincere gratitude to Thailand for helping repatriate over 1,000 Indonesian citizens who fell victim to online scam syndicates operating in neighboring countries, noting that the assistance underscores the strong friendship between the two nations. The Prime Minister emphasized that cybercrime is a borderless threat requiring rigorous international collaboration.

On tourism, both sides welcomed the growing people-to-people connectivity and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Tourism Authority of Thailand and TransNusa airline to launch direct flights connecting Bangkok to Jakarta and Phuket to Bali, which will facilitate travel and stimulate economic growth.

Source: Matichon Politics