Indonesia and the European Union (EU) Monday signed a partnership agreement aimed at strengthening economic and political ties between the regional bloc and Southeast Asia's largest economy.
Signed in Indonesian capital Jakarta by its Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and his Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt, whose country holds the current presidency of EU, the deal was the first of its kind between the two entities, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) will pave the way for new avenues of ties and boost cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, the environment, human rights, and counter-terrorism. Cooperative projects in fisheries and forestry are part of efforts to tackle climate change, it added.
Indonesia and EU launched a human rights dialogue under which officials from both sides meet annually to discuss human rights issues.
Addressing a news conference after the signing ceremony, Bildt said "It opens a new era in bilateral relations, based on shared principles such as equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit, democracy, rule of law and human rights."
The 27-nation bloc also pledged 200 million euros ($298 million) to help improve basic education in the country with the largest Muslim population.
The financial assistance will be disbursed over a period of three years, Natalegawa told reporters. EU will also provide 15 million euros ($22.5 billion) to support Indonesian export bodies.
Indonesia and the European Union have an annual trade turnover of more than 20 billion euros ($30 billion), which is showing a six per cent growth every year.
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April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.