Jakarta. Senior officials from Canada’s British Columbia province have expressed strong interest in deepening ties with Indonesia, following President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to Ottawa in September. The province is now preparing a delegation trip to Indonesia next year to explore investment and broader economic cooperation.

BC Minister of Jobs and Economic Development Ravi Kahlon conveyed the plan during a meeting with Indonesia’s Ambassador to Canada, Muhsin Syihab, and Indonesian Consul General in Vancouver, Nina Kurnia Widhi, in Victoria this week. Parliamentary Secretary for Trade Paul Choi also attended the talks, held at the provincial legislature building.

Kahlon welcomed the recently signed Indonesia–Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA) and said the agreement provides new momentum for bilateral trade and investment. He added that British Columbia sees significant room to expand cooperation, particularly in sectors ranging from natural resources to technology.

In a separate engagement, Ambassador Muhsin and Consul General Nina met Raj Chounan, Speaker of the BC Legislative Assembly, who highlighted the momentum created by Prabowo's Sept. 24 visit to Ottawa. Chounan said the presidential trip had “opened wide opportunities for concrete collaboration,” including in trade, investment, education, and cultural exchanges.

He encouraged both sides to explore “twin city or twin province” partnerships and use cultural festivals as platforms to strengthen people-to-people engagement between Indonesia and British Columbia.

Ambassador Muhsin told BC leaders that Indonesia and Canada share many natural and democratic attributes that could form the basis of deeper cooperation, from long coastlines and extensive forest resources to commitments on environmental stewardship and inclusive growth.

He also underlined the importance of expanding student exchanges, cultural programs, and more frequent government and parliamentary visits. Establishing a legislative friendship group, he said, could help institutionalize communication between lawmakers in both jurisdictions.

“High-level visits, especially by ministers leading business delegations to Indonesia, would send a strong message that Canada and, particularly British Columbia, is serious about strengthening relations with Indonesia,” Muhsin said.

British Columbia has long been one of Indonesia’s key provincial-level partners in Canada. Bilateral trade between Indonesia and BC reached $654.51 million in 2024, making Indonesia the province’s fourth-largest Southeast Asian trading partner after Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. Officials say the figure remains below potential.

“The current trade volume does not yet reflect the real opportunities available,” Consul General Nina said, adding that ICA-CEPA could serve as an accelerator for expanding trade and economic cooperation.

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