Rt Hon Winston PetersDeputy Prime MinisterMinister of Foreign Affairs
Indonesia’s Vice President Ma’ruf Amin will visit New Zealand next week, the first here by an Indonesian leader since
2018, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has announced.
“New Zealand and Indonesia have a strong partnership,” Mr Peters says.
“The Vice President’s visit is an opportunity to discuss how we can strengthen this further, building on 65 years of
partnership and looking ahead to Indonesia’s next administration.”
Indonesia is the largest country and economy in South East Asia and a key partner for New Zealand in the Indo-Pacific.
Annual two-way trade with Indonesia is worth almost $3.3 billion and halal exports comprise nearly half of that.
“Indonesia is a growing powerhouse in South East Asia, and is increasingly influential globally.
“As the world’s fourth-largest country, and by 2030 projected to be one of the world’s ten largest economies, there is
further room for our bilateral trade to grow,” Mr Peters says.
Among the other issues to be discussed with the Vice President, will be the continued concern for the New Zealand
citizen held hostage in Papua, Phillip Mehrtens.
“New Zealand continues to work with Indonesia for the urgent and safe release of Mr Mehrtens,” Mr Peters says.
The Vice President will have programmes in Auckland and Wellington – including meetings with Prime Minister Christopher
Luxon and Mr Peters.