Cooperation between Indonesia and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) plays an important role in supporting economic development and strengthening Indonesia’s capacity to navigate global trade dynamics. As a developing country and a member of UNCTAD since its establishment in 1964, Indonesia has benefited from various forms of technical assistance, peer reviews, an…
This paper examines strategies to increase the number of Russian tourists visiting Indonesia following the significant decline in tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite Russia’s potential as a key source market, Indonesia faces strong competition from other Southeast Asian destinations, particularly Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Through comparative analysis, the paper explores effec…
This paper proposes leveraging Indonesia’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2029–2030 term to strengthen its global economic influence. Beyond its traditional focus on peacekeeping, Indonesia can align its UNSC role with economic diplomacy, particularly in promoting strategic and defense industries, South-South cooperation, and partner…
This paper proposes strategies to enhance Indonesia’s passport strength and global mobility index. Currently, Indonesia’s regular passport ranks 78th globally with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 78 countries, trailing regional peers such as Singapore and Malaysia. Key barriers include limited bilateral visa-free agreements, inter-agency coordination complexities, and external challe…
This paper examines how Indonesia’s economic diplomacy can strengthen the competitiveness and global market share of its halal food industry. Despite being the world’s largest halal food consumer, Indonesia has yet to maximise its potential as a global producer and exporter. Using scenario planning, the paper analyses key market dynamics, major stakeholders, and challenges, focusing on two …
This paper proposes a strategic transformation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) towards Indonesia Emas 2045 through a legal approach. The transformation includes three main initiatives: (1) amending Law No. 37 of 1999 on Foreign Relations to grant MoFA formal authority to lead and coordinate cross-sectoral diplomacy; (2) establishing a Foreign Service Officer (FSO) Act to create a spec…
This policy paper examines the potential of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as a non-traditional market for Indonesia’s export expansion. Building on data-driven market analysis and previous research proposing a stockpile of Indonesian products in the region, the paper identifies promising national markets and assesses potential locations for a regional distribution centre. The proposed appr…
The implementation of the Indonesia–Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IC-CEPA) on August 10, 2019, created opportunities for Indonesia to expand its exports to Latin America. However, tariff reductions and duty-free access for thousands of products may not be sufficient to increase bilateral trade if awareness of Indonesia and its products among Chilean consumers and busines…
This paper proposes strengthening Indonesia’s engagement in the Pacific by positioning Fiji as a key strategic partner. Fiji plays a pivotal role in regional forums such as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), and has significant influence in Pacific diplomacy and UN peacekeeping since 1978. The paper offers four strategic policy options: (1) strengthening pri…
This policy paper examines how Indonesia’s health diplomacy can support the development of a regional vaccine hub in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. By strengthening health system resilience and pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, particularly vaccine production, Indonesia can enhance its pandemic preparedness while unlocking economic opportunities. The paper explores potential diplomat…