Thailand-Indonesia trade plan includes direct Phuket-Bali services

Thailand and Indonesia have agreed to expand cooperation across several sectors, including direct Phuket-Bali air services, as they target bilateral trade of US$23 billion by 2030.

The target compares with bilateral trade of about US$19.5 billion. Leaders said they were confident it could be reached before 2030 through greater cooperation in agricultural trade, two-way investment, regional supply chains and the halal industry.

The planned connectivity expansion also includes direct Bangkok-Jakarta services. An agreement involving the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Indonesian airline TransNusa covers the routes, which are intended to make travel easier, stimulate tourism and strengthen links between the two countries.

The cooperation was discussed during talks between Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Istana Merdeka presidential palace in Jakarta on August 3. It was Anutin’s first official visit to Indonesia by a Thai prime minister in 15 years.

The leaders witnessed the exchange of an action plan for the Thailand-Indonesia strategic partnership, creating a framework for long-term cooperation. They also agreed to work more closely against transnational crime, particularly online fraud, human trafficking and drug smuggling, through intelligence sharing and closer coordination between law-enforcement agencies.

Anutin said Thailand was ready to be a reliable economic partner for Indonesia and invited Indonesian businesses to invest in Thailand. The countries also agreed to develop the halal industry by combining Indonesia’s large Muslim consumer market with Thailand’s production capacity, product quality and halal standards.

The leaders further discussed ASEAN economic integration and coordinating their efforts as both countries pursue membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.