April 23, 2026 | 07:20 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian and Philippine governments have agreed to bolster economic cooperation through the utilization of local currencies and the integration of cross-border digital payment systems. The agreement was reached during the 8th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) meeting at the Pancasila Building, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Foreign Minister Sugiono stated that the discussions between the two nations remained focused on public welfare. "Our discussions center on a single goal: ensuring that bilateral cooperation provides tangible benefits to all our people," he remarked.
Connectivity and Supply Chain
In the economic sector, the two countries have agreed to expand the use of local currency transactions, reinforce cross-border QR-based payment systems, and enhance connectivity in border regions. "In terms of economic cooperation, we have agreed to strengthen collaboration, including through the use of local currency, a more robust QR payment system, and increased connectivity between border cities such as Manado, Bitung, Davao, and General Santos," Sugiono noted.
Additionally, energy cooperation has become a primary focus, particularly regarding the development of critical mineral supply chains. "As the two largest nickel producers in the world, we welcome the progress of this critical mineral partnership," Sugiono said.
Indonesia and the Philippines are currently promoting strategic cooperation initiatives in the nickel sector to bolster the resilience of the global supply chain.
Direction of Indonesia-Philippines Cooperation
Philippine Foreign Minister Maria Theresa Parreo Lazaro also emphasized the significance of bilateral relations with Indonesia. "I wish to emphasize that the Philippines attaches great importance to its bilateral relations with Indonesia, which this year marks their 77th anniversary," she stated.
She identified the JCBC as the primary forum for consultation between the two nations, covering various strategic sectors including economics, defense, and inter-societal relations. "Today we discussed various issues grounded in the Indonesia-Philippines Action Plan 2022-2027," she noted.
The JCBC is a high-level dialogue mechanism established through a memorandum of understanding and was first convened in 1995 in Manila. The forum serves as a periodic coordination platform to strengthen political, security, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation between Indonesia and the Philippines.
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