Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia and Russia agreed to strengthen cooperation in strategic industries during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the BRICS Forum on Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) 2026 in Xiamen, China.Indonesia’s Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said the 76-year relationship between the two countries continues to deepen alongside expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, including industry and technology.“The BRICS PartNIR Forum is very important for us. We highly appreciate the Government of Russia’s support for Indonesia’s BRICS membership and are very interested in hearing views on the future direction of industrial cooperation within the BRICS framework,” Agus said.Indonesia’s participation in BRICS is seen as a strategic step to broaden economic and industrial collaboration with various partner countries, including Russia, while strengthening national economic resilience through global partnerships.The BRICS PartNIR Forum, which was held in late May, serves as a platform for member countries to enhance cooperation in emerging industries, technological innovation, downstream processing, and more resilient and inclusive global supply chains.During the bilateral meeting, both sides discussed opportunities to expand mutually beneficial industrial cooperation in strategic sectors with strong development potential, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Industry. The Indonesian delegation was represented by Director General of International Industrial Resilience, Regionalization and Access (KPAII) Tri Supondy, accompanied by Acting Director of International Industrial Access Binoni A Napitupulu. Russia was represented by Counsellor of the Russian Trade Mission in China Andrei Gorobets.Tri said stronger international communication and partnerships are essential to expanding market access and fostering industrial collaboration aligned with global technological change.“Synergy between Indonesia and Russia is also expected to open concrete cooperation opportunities that add value to the development of both countries’ industries,” Tri said.Bilateral trade between Indonesia and Russia has shown positive momentum. Non-oil and gas trade reached approximately US$1 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 1.13 percent year on year.Indonesia’s exports to Russia reached US$3.3 billion in 2024, increasing 13.38 percent from a year earlier, led by rubber, coffee, cocoa and tea, footwear, electronic components, and chemical products.Both countries also explored broader cooperation under the BRICS framework, particularly ahead of China’s upcoming chairmanship next year, with Indonesia seeking to expand industrial cooperation and investment among member states. Indonesia also invited Russian support to encourage greater participation of Chinese investors and businesses at INNOPROM 2026, where Indonesia will be the partner country.Jakarta welcomed progress on the Indonesia–Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (I-EAEU FTA), signed in December 2025 in St. Petersburg, which is expected to expand market access and boost trade and investment flows with Russia and other EAEU members.Indonesia confirmed its role as partner country at the International Industrial Exhibition INNOPROM 2026, scheduled for July 6-9 in Ekaterinburg, Russia, as part of efforts to promote its manufacturing sector and attract wider investment.Tri expressed optimism that stronger Indonesia-Russia ties fostered through the BRICS PartNIR Forum 2026 will further deepen cooperation in developing a modern, competitive, and globally oriented industrial base.