Jakarta, 22 July 2025: ERIA and Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade have formalised a new partnership to enhance evidence-based trade policymaking, reinforcing Indonesia’s capacity to navigate global trade challenges through rigorous research and analysis.

The collaboration was cemented through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Jakarta on Tuesday, establishing a framework for joint research, policy development, and capacity building between ERIA and the ministry’s Trade Policy Agency (BKPerdag).

ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe, speaking at the signing ceremony, reaffirmed ERIA’s commitment to supporting Indonesia’s efforts to craft adaptive and forward-looking trade strategies grounded in high-quality research.

‘In challenging times like today, evidence-based policy and informed dialogue are more essential than ever,’ said President Watanabe. ‘ERIA brings to this partnership not only research expertise and regional insights, but also a strong network that connects government, industry, academia, and think tanks.’

He highlighted that the partnership reflects a shared ambition to develop trade policies that are both technically robust and responsive to evolving regional and global dynamics. President Watanabe also expressed confidence that the collaboration would align with Indonesia’s national policy priorities while advancing broader regional development goals.

Indonesia’s Minister of Trade, H.E. Budi Santoso, welcomed the partnership and expressed appreciation for ERIA’s continued engagement.

‘This agreement marks a significant step in improving the quality of Indonesia’s trade policies, while also strengthening the human resource capacity of our ministry in the trade sector,’ said Minister Budi.

Under the MoU, ERIA will collaborate closely with BKPerdag to deliver policy-relevant research, technical advice, and capacity development initiatives. The agreement builds on ERIA’s longstanding engagement with Indonesia and reinforces its role as a trusted partner in ASEAN’s economic policymaking ecosystem.