Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Kuwait are strengthening cooperation in energy security to navigate ongoing global economic and geopolitical uncertainties.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a meeting in Jakarta on June 17, 2026, between Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and Kuwaiti Ambassador to Indonesia Khalid Jassim Alyassin.
“Indonesia and Kuwait share a diplomatic relationship built on a solid foundation, which is vital for expanding bilateral cooperation. Both countries have agreed to continue working together on energy security amid geopolitical uncertainties,” Airlangga said in a statement on Friday.
Energy cooperation between Indonesia and Kuwait spans several strategic projects, including the involvement of the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) in eight oil and gas exploration ventures across Indonesia.
These exploration projects are located on Southeast Sulawesi's Buton Island, the Natuna Sea, and East Kalimantan. The KUFPEC Indonesia BV consortium is also conducting oil and gas exploration on the Anambas Islands, Riau Islands.
Energy collaboration between the two countries was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Oil, Gas, and Petrochemicals signed in 2019.
Beyond the energy sector, Indonesia and Kuwait have established several MoUs, including an MoU on the Establishment of a Joint Commission, an MoU on Economic and Technical Cooperation signed in 2007, and an MoU on Trade Cooperation signed in the same year.
According to Ambassador Alyassin, the various agreements signed between Kuwait and Indonesia reflect Indonesia’s strategic importance to Kuwait, particularly in the economic sphere.
The two Muslim-majority countries have also agreed to expedite negotiations on the Indonesia–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement, with both sides targeting completion by the end of 2026.
Bilateral economic ties between Indonesia and Kuwait have continued to strengthen. In 2025, total trade between the two countries increased by 10.69 percent to US$606 million, up from US$547.5 million in 2024.
Kuwaiti investment in Indonesia also rose significantly, from US$290,000 in 2024 to US$1.2 million in 2025, driven primarily by the oil and gas sector.
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Translator: Bayu Saputra, Raka Adji Editor: M Razi Rahman Copyright © ANTARA 2026
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