bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

Japan-Indonesia

In July 2005, Japan and Indonesia formally began negotiations on a bilateral free trade and economic agreement. Japan has more investment tied up in Indonesia than in any other Southeast Asian country. And Tokyo is particularly concerned about access to Indonesia’s natural resources, especially gas and oil. Indonesia is currently Japan’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas.

The two governments aimed to reach a deal by the end of 2006 but it took two years. The pact was signed on 20 August 2007 and went into effect on 1 July 2008. As with JPEPA, a small number of Indonesian nurses and healthcare workers are allowed into Japan to work temporarily under the agreement, provided they pass Japanese language examinations.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Infernal Elf / CC BY-NC 2.0


Abe, Yudhoyono sign FTA, agree to tackle climate change
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday signed a bilateral free trade agreement and confirmed a shared commitment to tackling global warming beyond 2012.
Indonesia likely to be the loser in Japan agreement
Analysts say an economic partnership agreement due to be signed next week between Indonesia and Japan will do more to benefit Japanese companies than domestic Indonesian businesses.
Implementation of RI-Japan EPA to begin in November
The Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which is scheduled to be signed by the two countries` heads of governemnts on August 20 is expected to begin to be implemented in November, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said on Friday.
RI-Japan EPA final draft turned into legal document
Indonesian and Japanese legal consultants at the end of last week finished processing the final draft of the planned Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the two countries, a diplomat said.
Indonesia and Japan agree to sign FTA
Trade ministers from Japan and Indonesia have agreed the two nations will sign a bilateral free trade agreement when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits Indonesia in August, a senior Japanese official said Friday.
EPA yet to set quota for Indonesian workers
Final draft of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Indonesia and Japan has not ruled a quota for Indonesian skilled workers to be employed in Japan, an Indonesiantop official said Saturday.
Under EPA, RI must improve Japan’s business confidence
With the planned signing of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan , one of the important things Indonesia will have to do is to improve Japan’s business confidence (in Indonesia), an Indoneisan trade official said.
RI, Japan to finalize negotiations on EPA
Indonesia and Japan finalized their negotiations on an economic partnership agreement, which is scheduled to be signed by the two heads of states next August, an Indonesian diplomat said.
Japan urges Indonesia to finalize investment list
Indonesia needs to finalize the negative lists of investment from Japan because any delay could potentially hamper the signing of the long-awaited Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), a Japanese envoy said Thursday.
Indonesia offers LNG supplies to Japan, RoK
Indonesia is offering liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to Japan and South Korea from its largest natural gas field of Tanggguh in Papua province, local press said Monday. LNG supplies to the two countries will consume half of the production in Tangguh. Japan agreed to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in exchange for the LNG supplies.