Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for Economic Diplomacy and Extroversion, Harry Theoharis, visited Jakarta from 12 to 14 October 2026, heading a Greek business delegation and accompanied by the Secretary General for International Economic Relations and Extroversion, Dimitris Skalkos.
The visit forms part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Strategic Plan for Extroversion 2026–2030, aimed at boosting Greek exports and broadening trade and investment relations with Indonesia.
The centrepiece of the visit was the 1st Session of the Greece–Indonesia Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation, held on 13 October and co-chaired by Mr. Theoharis and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Arif Havas Oegroseno. The proceedings concluded with the signing of Agreed Minutes, which set out the areas of cooperation and the directions for their further development within the framework of the 2023–2028 Action Plan.
The discussions examined initiatives in shipping, agri-food and energy, including through the proposed establishment of a Joint Committee on Maritime Cooperation and the development of partnerships in renewable energy, energy storage and environmentally friendly technologies.
During the visit, memoranda of cooperation were also signed for the twinning of Piraeus with Denpasar, the capital of the province of Bali, as well as between Enterprise Greece and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), with the aim of strengthening business ties and exploring new trade and investment opportunities. In addition, the Hellenic-ASEAN Business Council (HABC) and the Indonesian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the maritime sector.
Mr. Theoharis met with the CEO of the Indonesia Investment Authority to discuss the potential for investment cooperation and to explore joint investment initiatives. He also met with the Governor of Jakarta, Pramono Anung, to discuss prospects for city-to-city cooperation, urban development and the exchange of best practices.
As part of his contacts with Indonesia’s political leadership, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arrmanatha Nasir, to whom he conveyed the congratulations of the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, on his assumption of office. The talks covered bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues, with an emphasis on respect for International Law and the Law of the Sea, and on strengthening cooperation in international organisations and multilateral fora.
In the field of trade, Mr. Theoharis met with the Deputy Minister of Trade, Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri. They discussed the course of bilateral trade relations, improving the access of Greek products to the Indonesian market and making the most of the opportunities offered by the EU–Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). They also highlighted Greece’s potential, thanks to its geographical position and infrastructure, to serve as a gateway for Indonesian products into the European and Balkan markets.
In the field of tourism, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ni Luh Puspa. The talks focused on institutional cooperation, the exchange of know-how and good practices, and tourism education. The Greek side expressed its readiness to respond to an invitation to convene a Joint Committee on Tourism in Jakarta in 2027, while a videoconference between the competent ministries and an online seminar for an Indonesian tourism school, with the participation of the Directorate of Tourism Education of the Greek Ministry of Tourism, were also proposed.
Mr. Theoharis also met with the Deputy Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, to discuss strengthening Greece’s communication with the organisation and developing ties with the wider region. A replica of the “Kore of Euthydikos” was presented to the Museum of the ASEAN Secretariat, as a contribution to promoting Greek culture through cultural diplomacy and as a token of our country’s status as a High Contracting Party to ASEAN.
The visit concluded on 14 October with the Greek–Indonesian Business Forum, held at the KADIN premises with the participation of business organisations from both countries. On the sidelines of the Forum, Mr. Theoharis and the Chairman of KADIN, Bakrie, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between Enterprise Greece and KADIN, aimed at connecting Greek businesses with the Indonesian market and exploring new trade and investment opportunities. Business-to-business meetings followed to examine possibilities for cooperation.
The visit confirmed the will of Greece and Indonesia to strengthen their economic and trade relations, broaden investment opportunities and develop partnerships in areas of mutual interest.
Source: mfa.gr (in Greek)
