RI, Uzbekistan form committee for food security, trade

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Uzbekistan have agreed to establish an intergovernmental joint committee to strengthen bilateral cooperation in food security, trade, and investment.

The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting between Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan and Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Investments, Industry and Trade Jamshid Khodjaev, in Tashkent on Oct. 29.

"The self-sufficiency we have achieved should serve as a foundation to strengthen cooperation, expand markets for Indonesian products and open investment opportunities that provide tangible benefits to both nations," Hasan said in a statement released on Saturday.

The newly formed Indonesia–Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Joint Committee is designed to serve as a structured mechanism to follow up on bilateral outcomes and guide future economic collaboration.

During the talks, both sides discussed expanding trade in agricultural commodities—including the potential import of Uzbek dried fruits—while ensuring strict adherence to food safety standards.

Hasan also highlighted Indonesia's agricultural achievements, noting a 13.54 percent increase in rice production, a 9.34 percent rise in corn output, and government rice reserves reaching 4.58 million tons.

Bilateral trade between the two countries has also experienced steady growth, totaling $181.4 million in 2025—a 48.9 percent increase compared to 2021.

Economic ties are further underpinned by ongoing negotiations for an Indonesia–Uzbekistan Free Trade Agreement launched in March 2026, alongside upcoming plans for direct flights between Tashkent and Jakarta.

In addition to trade and agriculture, Hasan met with Aziz Abdukhakimov, Chairman of Uzbekistan’s National Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection, on Oct. 30 to discuss sustainable development and green economy transitions ahead of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.

The discussions explored potential cooperation in waste-to-energy technology, sustainable agriculture, and conservation management.

Uzbekistan is advancing 11 waste-to-energy projects—six of which entered implementation by late 2026 to process 3.6 million tons of waste annually—while Indonesia targets at least 18 operational waste-to-energy plants by the end of 2029.

Indonesia also shared its experience in ecological restoration, having rehabilitated roughly 2 million hectares of degraded land—including 90,000 hectares of mangroves—between 2015 and 2025, alongside managing 27 million hectares of conservation areas.

"Economic growth must go hand in hand with environmental protection," Hasan emphasized, adding that the partnership aims to ensure sustainable development for future generations.

Translator: Aria Ananda, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2026