A strategic case for the Indonesia-Canada trade pact

In a Jakarta Post op-ed, VP International Affairs and Operations IBC Noto Suoneto and Rahma Anggraini from CABC write about the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA). The authors argue that ICA-CEPA gives Indonesia a path toward resilience and strategic autonomy amid geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain disruption, and economic fragmentation. They frame the agreement as an expression of Indonesia's bebas aktif foreign policy, strengthening supply chain redundancy, expanding market access for Indonesian exporters, and pushing regulatory reform. With both countries completing ratification steps in May, the authors urge stakeholders to sustain momentum toward entry into force, since faster implementation delivers these strategic benefits sooner.