Latest news with #Russian-led


The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Indonesia expects to sign free trade deal with Russia-led union this year, minister says
JAKARTA: Indonesia expects to sign a free trade agreement with the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) this year in a move likely to boost demand for its commodity exports, its senior economic minister said in a statement released on Friday. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the agreement would open up new opportunities for commodities including crude palm oil, coffee and natural rubber. Both parties announced on Thursday they had completed substantive talks for the agreement. 'I hope both parties can immediately follow this up by completing all the necessary stages of the process so that this agreement can be signed this year,' Airlangga said. As of March, the value of trade between Indonesia and the EAEU stood at $1.6 billion, 85% more than the same period last year, Indonesia's coordinating ministry for economic affairs said. The EAEU is already one of Indonesia's biggest palm oil buyers, with imports valued at $544.64 million in 2023. The EAEU's main exports to the Southeast Asian nation include fertilisers and ferro-alloys. The completion of Indonesia-EAEU FTA talks was announced on Thursday during President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Russia this week for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The EAEU has five members: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.


The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Indonesia to sign free trade deal with Eurasian Union in 2025
JAKARTA: Indonesia expects to sign a free trade agreement with the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) this year in a move likely to boost demand for its commodity exports, its senior economic minister said in a statement released on Friday. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the agreement would open up new opportunities for commodities including crude palm oil, coffee and natural rubber. Both parties announced on Thursday they had completed substantive talks for the agreement. 'I hope both parties can immediately follow this up by completing all the necessary stages of the process so that this agreement can be signed this year,' Airlangga said. As of March, the value of trade between Indonesia and the EAEU stood at $1.6 billion, 85% more than the same period last year, Indonesia's coordinating ministry for economic affairs said. The EAEU is already one of Indonesia's biggest palm oil buyers, with imports valued at $544.64 million in 2023. The EAEU's main exports to the Southeast Asian nation include fertilisers and ferro-alloys. The completion of Indonesia-EAEU FTA talks was announced on Thursday during President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Russia this week for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The EAEU has five members: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Indonesia expects to sign free trade deal with Russia-led union this year, minister says
FILE PHOTO: Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, gestures as he talks during an interview with Reuters at his office in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/File Photo Indonesia expects to sign free trade deal with Russia-led union this year, minister says JAKARTA - Indonesia expects to sign a free trade agreement with the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) this year in a move likely to boost demand for its commodity exports, its senior economic minister said in a statement released on Friday. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the agreement would open up new opportunities for commodities including crude palm oil, coffee and natural rubber. Both parties announced on Thursday they had completed substantive talks for the agreement. "I hope both parties can immediately follow this up by completing all the necessary stages of the process so that this agreement can be signed this year," Airlangga said. As of March, the value of trade between Indonesia and the EAEU stood at $1.6 billion, 85% more than the same period last year, Indonesia's coordinating ministry for economic affairs said. The EAEU is already one of Indonesia's biggest palm oil buyers, with imports valued at $544.64 million in 2023. The EAEU's main exports to the Southeast Asian nation include fertilisers and ferro-alloys. The completion of Indonesia-EAEU FTA talks was announced on Thursday during President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Russia this week for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The EAEU has five members: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Straits Times
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Kazakhstan president replaces ministers of defence and transport
ASTANA - Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Sunday replaced two ministers in his government, including the transport minister, who he had previously criticized for delays in infrastructure modernisation. He fired Defence Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov and replaced him with Zhaksylykov's deputy and Air Defence Forces chief Dauren Kosanov, according to decrees published on the president's site. Tokayev met Kosanov on Sunday and gave him several instructions, including strengthening the army's combat readiness, expanding the capabilities of the Special Operations Forces, and modernising the military's infrastructure. Zhaksylykov, previously deputy interior minister and head of the national guard, was appointed defence minister after civil unrest in January 2022 triggered by the removal of a price cap on fuel. Authorities were forced to call in troops from a Russian-led alliance of former Soviet states to quell what became a broad protest against corruption and economic hardship. Tokayev also sacked transport minister Marat Karabayev who he had reprimanded in May for problems with transport and logistics. It is not clear who will replace Karabayev. The president did not reveal the reasons for the reshuffle. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.


Time of India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Putin, Trump discuss India-Pakistan ties: Trump claimed he stopped conflict; Kremlin silent on details
Putin Trump discussion A recent phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump touched upon an unexpected flashpoint: the recent India-Pakistan conflict, a Kremlin aide said on Wednesday. According to Yury Ushakov, a senior advisor to Putin, the conflict was "stopped with the personal participation of President Trump. " 'They also touched upon the Middle East and the armed conflict between India and Pakistan, which was stopped with the personal participation of President Trump,' Ushakov said, as reported by Russia's state-run TASS news agency. However, Ushakov offered no details of Trump's involvement or timing. Trump claims credit, India cites military diplomacy Trump has in the past taken credit for de-escalating South Asia tensions, particularly during his presidency. However, India has consistently maintained that the cessation of hostilities was the result of direct military dialogue. Officials confirmed that the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations coordinated the ceasefire following cross-border exchanges in early May. The recent skirmish began after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, prompting India to carry out precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. Pakistan responded with aerial aggression over the next three days, targeting Indian military bases, but was met with strong retaliation. A mutual understanding to halt operations was reportedly reached on May 10 via DGMO-level talks. Pakistan seeks Putin's help, India gets diplomatic backing In a parallel development, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a letter to President Putin seeking Russia's involvement in diffusing tensions. The letter was delivered by Sharif's aide Syed Tariq Fatemi during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday. "We are ready to sit down with them at the negotiating table," Fatemi said, expressing Islamabad's desire for Russian-led diplomacy. But India has been busy building a contrasting narrative in Moscow. Days before Fatemi's visit, a multi-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi received 'solid Russian support' for India's zero-tolerance policy against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, sources said. The rare moment of diplomatic shadowboxing in Moscow underlines the lingering mistrust between India and Pakistan, and the global interest in containing a regional crisis with nuclear stakes.