Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, has emphasized the imperative for Indonesia to explore diverse trade cooperation schemes amidst the ever-evolving global landscape. A key initiative being championed is the leveraging of the Indonesia–Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (Indonesia–EAEU FTA). This agreement is seen as a strategic pathway to not only unlock new market opportunities but also to significantly bolster Indonesia’s domestic industrial needs.
Minister Airlangga highlighted that optimizing this pivotal agreement extends beyond merely securing enhanced market access for Indonesian exports into the vast Eurasian region. It also critically involves identifying and mapping Indonesia’s demand for strategic goods that can be reliably supplied by EAEU member states, with a particular focus on Belarus.
“We recognize that Belarusian companies possess extensive experience in manufacturing a wide array of heavy equipment,” stated Airlangga in a written release on Friday, May 15, 2026. “This expertise can be instrumental in strengthening Indonesia’s industrialization efforts, advancing modern agricultural mechanization, and fostering the growth of our domestic heavy equipment industry.”
This crucial statement followed the Minister’s recent visit to several strategic Belarusian industries specializing in heavy equipment, commercial vehicles, and modern agricultural mechanization in Minsk, on Thursday, May 14, 2026. The visit was an integral part of the 8th RI–Belarus Joint Commission Meeting (SKB) on Trade, Economic, and Technical Cooperation, held at the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus. During his visit, Minister Airlangga was accompanied by Leonid Ryzkovsky, the Deputy Minister of Industry of Belarus.
During his comprehensive tour, Airlangga visited three cornerstones of Belarusian manufacturing: Minsk Tractor Works, Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ), and BelAZ Holding Management Company. These enterprises are widely recognized as the backbone of Belarus’s industrial prowess in the sectors of heavy equipment, commercial vehicles, and cutting-edge agricultural mechanization technology.
Minister Airlangga underscored that these exploratory collaborations are in perfect alignment with Indonesia’s national food security agenda. This ambitious agenda necessitates substantial investment in agricultural modernization and robust support from efficient heavy equipment. Notably, Belarus’s manufacturing sector contributed an impressive 20.3 percent to its GDP in 2024, alongside claiming an impressive food self-sufficiency rate of approximately 96 percent, showcasing its industrial and agricultural strength.
At Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ), Airlangga meticulously reviewed the latest advancements in tractor and agricultural machinery technology. These innovations are considered highly relevant for bolstering Indonesia’s agricultural modernization program, including the strategic development of food estates. Representatives from MTZ expressed their readiness to customize equipment specifications to precisely meet Indonesia’s unique requirements, further offering comprehensive training and invaluable technology transfer. Initial discussions regarding this potential cooperation have already commenced with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).
Subsequently, discussions at the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) centered on burgeoning opportunities for developing commercial vehicles, buses, and various industrial vehicles. Key considerations included prospects for local assembly, technology transfer, and the collaborative development of sustainable, low-emission vehicles.
The visit to BelAZ Holding Management Company sparked extensive discussions between both parties on potential cooperation in mining heavy equipment. This included developing a comprehensive maintenance ecosystem, facilitating local assembly initiatives, and exploring lucrative supply chain opportunities for heavy vehicle tires, potentially leveraging Indonesia’s natural rubber resources. Further innovative discussions encompassed the conversion of cassava into ethanol and conducting feasibility studies on utilizing nickel-based batteries to further modernize heavy equipment fleets.
Minister Airlangga highlighted the successful implementation of nickel batteries in mining trucks, a move that significantly enhances operational efficiency and promotes sustainability. Given Indonesia’s substantial coal exports, which reach approximately 800 million tons annually, the demand for highly efficient dump trucks remains a critical priority for the nation’s resource sector.
According to Airlangga, while the Belarusian government has been actively studying Indonesia’s heavy equipment requirements, it currently faces limitations due to a lack of detailed information. Therefore, he stressed the critical need for joint needs mapping, establishing regular consultation forums, and significantly improving communication channels between industrial stakeholders and government entities in both countries to foster deeper, more informed partnerships.
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Summary
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto is leveraging the Indonesia–Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (Indonesia–EAEU FTA) to strengthen industrial and trade ties with Belarus. By focusing on sectors such as heavy equipment, commercial vehicles, and agricultural mechanization, Indonesia aims to enhance its domestic industrial capabilities and support national food security. The collaboration seeks to capitalize on Belarusian manufacturing expertise to advance technology transfer and modernize Indonesia’s resource and agricultural sectors.
During his visit to major Belarusian enterprises like Minsk Tractor Works and BelAZ, Minister Airlangga explored opportunities for local assembly, sustainable vehicle development, and mining equipment optimization. Both nations are committed to improving communication channels and conducting joint needs mapping to overcome information gaps. These strategic efforts are designed to foster long-term partnerships that align with Indonesia’s goals for infrastructure development and sustainable industrial growth.