Indonesia has officially applied to join the CPTPP agreement.
According to the state news agency Antara, Indonesia has officially applied to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement to expand its export markets.
Specifically, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that Indonesia has sent a letter of application to New Zealand – the depositary of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, or CPTPP.
"This is a decision we have made... aimed at reforming the economic structure and opening up market access opportunities for the Indonesian economy," Minister Airlangga said.
In May, Jakarta announced its intention to join the free trade agreement, which already has 12 member countries, hoping to attract investment by expanding access to export markets.
The members of the CPTPP are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
Minister Airlangga said that Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto has supported the request to join. Mr. Prabowo will take over from outgoing President Joko Widodo on October 20.
