Indonesia’s president stops over in Minsk as Jakarta eyes Belarus’ fertilizers

July 16, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka hosted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at his residence in Minsk yesterday evening, Pul Pervogo, his press office’s unofficial Telegram channel reported at around 10 p.m.

The meeting lasted for about three hours and took place in an informal setting, according to his website.

Prabowo stopped over in Belarus on his way back home from Europe and reportedly invited the Belarusian ruler to visit his country.

Earlier, the Indonesian leader attended a private dinner hosted by President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on July 14 and met with Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, in Brussels the previous day. Last month, he also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

His unannounced visit to Minsk took place after Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono told Belarusian Ambassador Raman Ramanoŭski earlier this summer that Indonesia was interested in buying potash fertilizers from Belarus as it looked to ensure food security.

Last year, bilateral trade soared by 44 percent to $128.4 million from $89.1 million reported in 2023, according to the Indonesian foreign ministry’s data.

Belarusian exports reportedly amounted to $84.8 million last year, climbing 12 percent from the 2023 level. Fertilizers accounted for more than 78 percent of Belarusian goods sold to Indonesia, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, which accumulates data on global foreign trade.

Łukašenka visited Indonesia in 2013.

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