WNAM REPORT: Indonesia and Ireland on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to expand economic and business cooperation to new sectors and laying the foundation for the next stage of bilateral partnership.
The commitment was formalized through a Letter of Intent (LoI) signed in Jakarta, with Indonesia represented by Deputy for Economic and Investment Cooperation Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Edi Prio Pambudi and Ireland represented by its Ambassador to Indonesia Sharon Lennon.
“We see this document as an important foundation for translating joint priorities into concrete partnerships between the governments, business communities, and related institutions in our countries,” Pambudi said at a press conference after the signing.
He said that this year, Indonesia and Ireland are celebrating 42 years of diplomatic relations, which have seen progress in various sectors, including trade and investment, education, and people-to-people relations.
Indonesia and Ireland recorded positive trade performance in 2025, with total bilateral trade reaching US$228.6 million. Meanwhile, trade between the two countries totaled US$145.5 million in the first half of 2026.
However, Pambudi said the figures indicated that Indonesia and Ireland still have ample room to expand their economic partnership into more sectors.
The ministry official said that during his talks with Ambassador Lennon, they identified several sectors with strong potential for bilateral cooperation.
“Those are digital technology and artificial intelligence, renewable and clean energy, sustainable financing, agrifood and nutrition, and pharmaceutical and health services, as well as aviation and related services,” he noted.
Pambudi said the identified sectors reflected the complementary nature of the Indonesian and Irish economies, with Indonesia offering an expanding market, strong industrial capacity, and diverse investment opportunities.
Meanwhile, Ireland has advantages in technological expertise and international business networks that can help create added value for both countries.
Strengthening cooperation with Ireland in the technology sector is also a strategic step for Indonesia, given Ireland’s global reputation as a major hub for digital technology and innovation, he said.
Major technology companies, including Google, Meta, and Microsoft, have established a significant presence in Ireland, the ministry official noted.
