Prabowo Concludes Canada Visit, Strengthens Partnership Through Trade, Defense Deals
Key Takeaways
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OTTAWA, Investortrust.id – President Prabowo Subianto has departed Ottawa for Amsterdam after completing a high-profile state visit to Canada on Wednesday, Sept 24, 2025. His three-day trip concluded with concrete outcomes, including the signing of the Indonesia–Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA), new defense cooperation frameworks, and expanded business-to-business engagement.
The departure ceremony at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport was attended by Canada’s Ambassador to Indonesia Jess Dutton, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Canada Muhsin Syihab, and Defense Attaché Marsma TNI Edwardus Wisoko Aribowo.
Diplomatic Meetings and Symbolic Recognition
During his time in Ottawa, President Prabowo held bilateral meetings with Governor General Mary Simon at Rideau Hall and with Prime Minister Mark Carney at Parliament Hill’s West Block.
The meeting with Simon reflected Canada’s recognition of Indonesia’s growing global role, while discussions with Carney covered both bilateral priorities and pressing international issues, including Palestine, ASEAN affairs, and Indo-Pacific stability.
Prabowo expressed gratitude for Canada’s consistent role as a development partner, while Carney reaffirmed Indonesia’s strategic importance in Southeast Asia. The Canadian leader even cited Prabowo’s United Nations speech earlier this week as a source of inspiration.
A Warm Diplomatic Gesture
Beyond formal meetings, Carney hosted President Prabowo at a private dinner at the National Gallery of Canada. The two leaders toured the museum’s collections, engaging in informal conversation about culture and history before joining an evening attended by senior Canadian officials and influential figures.
The atmosphere underscored the warmth of bilateral relations, with both leaders emphasizing their commitment to a forward-looking partnership built on trust and shared values.
Signing of Strategic Agreements
The highlight of the visit was the signing of three major agreements witnessed by Prabowo and Carney at Parliament Hill.
The first was the ICA-CEPA, signed by Indonesia’s Trade Minister Budi Santoso and Canada’s Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu. The agreement provides legal certainty and expands market access, with Canada committing to remove 90.5 percent of tariffs on Indonesian products, while Indonesia liberalizes 85.8 percent of its tariff lines.
“This is a historic moment, a significant milestone for both our countries,” said President Prabowo. “We stayed up all night studying 9,000 pages of documents to bring this home, and I am proud to sign it as President of Indonesia.”
The deal is projected to raise Indonesia’s exports to Canada to US$ 11.8 billion by 2030, boost national GDP by 0.12 percent, and increase foreign direct investment by 0.38 percent. It also includes provisions on regulatory transparency, investment protection, digital marketplaces, intellectual property rights, micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) empowerment, and sustainable trade.
Expanding Defense and Business Cooperation
In addition to the trade pact, Indonesia and Canada signed a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation between the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and Canada’s Department of National Defense. The agreement builds on an earlier memorandum signed in August 2025 and extends collaboration to joint training, defense dialogues, and Canada’s participation in the multinational Super Garuda Shield exercises.
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“We value our relationship with Canada and want to send more of our young people here for training and defense cooperation,” Prabowo said.
The third agreement was a business-to-business memorandum signed by Anindya Novyan Bakrie, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), and representatives of the Business Council of Canada. This MoU focuses on trade, investment, and commerce, strengthening private sector engagement to complement the ICA-CEPA.
Strategic Outcomes for Indonesia–Canada Relations
Through this visit, Indonesia and Canada signaled their commitment to a comprehensive partnership that spans trade, defense, and business cooperation.
By securing ICA-CEPA, Jakarta has opened the door to new opportunities for Indonesian exporters, investors, and entrepreneurs while aligning with broader strategic objectives in North America. For Canada, the agreements deepen engagement in Southeast Asia, strengthening ties with one of the region’s largest economies.
As Prabowo emphasized, the visit was not merely ceremonial but the culmination of hard work and negotiation. “This agreement is not just about economics. It represents trust, partnership, and a shared vision for the future,” he said.