September 24, 2025 | 08:13 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairperson of the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) Shinta Widjaja Kamdani is optimistic that the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) will create many job opportunities.
"We can't wait for all of this to bring more jobs to Indonesia. Because right now, this is what we need, more job opportunities," said Shinta after the signing of the IEU-CEPA document in Bali, Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
Shinta believes that IEU-CEPA can drive factory expansion, the development of startups, supply chain modernization, and an boost in worker productivity. According to her, the European Union offers various opportunities, but it's up to Indonesia to rise to the challenges.
One such obstacle comes from the European Union's Anti-Deforestation Law (EUDR) which affects the export of palm oil, fisheries, and forestry products. "However, 97.5 percent of the 2.5 million small farmers in Indonesia do not have the required paperwork," she said.
She emphasizes that the business world sees IEU-CEPA as a strategic instrument to expand export market access, attract investment, and strengthen competitiveness.
Indonesia's exports to 27 European Union countries in 2024 reached US$17.34 billion even without a specific preferential framework. With IEU-CEPA, almost all tariff barriers will be removed, leading to a significant increase in export performance. "And opening access, not only for large companies, but also for professional workers," said Shinta.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, along with European Commission Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefovi, signed the IEU-CEPA in Badung, Bali. The signing was witnessed by the ambassadors of European Union countries and representatives of the private sector. "Today, we mark a significant milestone in the long-term partnership between Indonesia and the European Union. We welcome the substantive conclusion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations," said Airlangga.
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