February 19, 2026 | 03:36 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, declared that the completion of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) between Indonesia and the United States is a significant milestone in strengthening market access and improving business certainty for both countries.
"The completion of the ART is a significant milestone achieved through intensive and constructive negotiations between the two countries," he said in a statement on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Airlangga stated that this agreement shows Indonesia's commitment to creating a more open, transparent, and investment-friendly business environment.
Airlangga explained that Indonesia and the U.S. have concluded the ART negotiations and are now entering the preparation stage for signing and implementation. The agreement demonstrates the commitment of both countries to strengthening market access, simplifying trade barriers, and opening up wider, more sustainable investment opportunities.
President Prabowo Subianto also attended a business forum organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, and the U.S. Indonesia Society. On that occasion, Prabowo emphasized that his visit to the U.S. aims to finalize the reciprocal trade agreement, which is considered crucial for businesses, investors, and supply chains in the Pacific region.
He also stressed the importance of stability, certainty, and policy execution in order to maintain investor confidence. Indonesia's economic fundamentals are considered strong.
The forum served as a strategic dialogue between the Indonesian government and leading U.S. companies operating in Indonesia, such as Freeport-McMoRan, ExxonMobil, PepsiCo, Cargill, and Caterpillar Inc.
The forum also witnessed the signing of several memoranda of understanding with a total potential value of approximately US$38.4 billion. These commitments include US$2.5 billion in agricultural investments and US$35.9 billion in industrial investments, including cooperation in the semiconductor and strategic industrial materials sectors.
The government views the synergy between the public and private sectors of the two countries as a way to expand quality investments, deepen integration into the global supply chain, and promote the creation of productive, highly competitive jobs.
Read: Prabowo Offers 18 Downstream Projects to US Investors
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