The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, co-chaired the meeting of the Canada-Indonesia Bilateral Economic Task Force with Luhut Pandjaitan, Indonesian Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs.
During the meeting, Minister Ng highlighted Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy and provided an update on the negotiations for the Canada-Indonesia comprehensive economic partnership agreement, noting progress achieved to date and the importance of fostering a rules-based investment environment that ensures certainty and predictability.
The Minister also reiterated Canada's commitment to helping foster food security in the region, including the establishment of the first regional agriculture and agri-food office in the Philippines through Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy.
The ministers exchanged views on investment as drivers of economic growth and discussed the importance of green technologies in decarbonizing our economies. Minister Ng spoke about the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, which will increase the supply of responsibly sourced critical minerals, an essential part of Canada's economic security. She also discussed the importance of Indonesia's timely recognition of Canadian halal certifying bodies to enable the export of Canadian halal products to Indonesia.
Minister Ng congratulated Minister Luhut on Indonesia's ASEAN chairmanship and commented that the task force meeting was a demonstration of both countries' commitment to building a vibrant trade and investment relationship.
