Jakarta/Minsk. Indonesia and Belarus are exploring stronger bilateral cooperation across several strategic sectors, including food security and energy, following a meeting between Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto and Belarusian Prime Minister Alexander Turchin in Minsk on Friday.

The bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the 8th Session of the Indonesia–Belarus Joint Commission Meeting and marked an important step in strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

Airlangga said discussions focused on enhancing trade and economic cooperation as well as expanding partnerships in several priority sectors. According to him, Belarus is a strategic partner for Indonesia in Eastern Eurasia and serves as an important gateway to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) market.

In his opening remarks, Airlangga welcomed plans for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to make a state visit to Indonesia in early July 2026. Preparations for the visit are currently underway, including the completion of several key agreements expected to be finalized during the trip.

“Indonesia is ready to welcome a Belarusian business delegation as part of the president’s visit,” Airlangga said in a statement on Saturday.

He added that Belarus holds a significant role in supporting Indonesia’s industrialization agenda, food security goals, and market diversification efforts. Belarus is known for its strong manufacturing base, with the manufacturing sector contributing around 20.3 percent to the country’s gross domestic product in 2024.

Airlangga also highlighted Belarus’ expertise in agro-industry development and agricultural mechanization, which has helped the country achieve a food self-sufficiency rate of around 96 percent.

“With Belarus’ experience and advantages in agricultural technology, this cooperation is expected to help accelerate the modernization of Indonesia’s agricultural sector,” he said.