Tunisian olive oil Indonesia, new strategic market

Parliamentary Efforts Aim to Boost Tunisia‑Indonesia Trade and Open New Asian Markets

Overview

Parliamentary delegations from Tunisia and Indonesia met on Monday, 23 February 2026 within the framework of the Parliamentary Cooperation Group with Asian Countries. The talks focused on expanding commercial ties, especially for Tunisian olive oil and dates, and on broadening market access for Tunisian products across Asia.

Key Statements

Speaker	Main Points
Sawssen Mabrouk, Vice‑President of the Assembly of the People’s Representatives (Tunisia)	• Calls for upgrading Tunisia‑Indonesia relations to a strategic partnership. • Urges fast‑tracking the preferential trade agreement to ensure smoother entry of Tunisian goods into Asian markets. • Highlights the need to activate existing protocol agreements to leverage Indonesia’s demographic and political weight in East Asia, strengthening South‑South cooperation and creating a durable strategic balance.
Utut Adianto, President of the Indonesian Parliamentary Delegation	• Commits to coordinating with Indonesian government bodies to quickly implement current agreements. • Promises to launch multiple initiatives promoting Tunisian olive oil in Indonesia, aiming to reduce the trade deficit and further balance bilateral exchanges.

Speaker

Main Points

Sawssen Mabrouk, Vice‑President of the Assembly of the People’s Representatives (Tunisia)

• Calls for upgrading Tunisia‑Indonesia relations to a strategic partnership.
• Urges fast‑tracking the preferential trade agreement to ensure smoother entry of Tunisian goods into Asian markets.
• Highlights the need to activate existing protocol agreements to leverage Indonesia’s demographic and political weight in East Asia, strengthening South‑South cooperation and creating a durable strategic balance.

Utut Adianto, President of the Indonesian Parliamentary Delegation

• Commits to coordinating with Indonesian government bodies to quickly implement current agreements.
• Promises to launch multiple initiatives promoting Tunisian olive oil in Indonesia, aiming to reduce the trade deficit and further balance bilateral exchanges.

Topics Discussed

Social Policy Exchange – Tunisia expressed interest in Indonesia’s targeted aid programmes and methods for evaluating their economic impact.
Sector‑Specific Cooperation – Both sides agreed to broaden collaboration by establishing an Economic and Scientific Forum.
Education & Culture – Indonesia signaled a desire to send more medical students to Tunisian universities, deepening educational and cultural ties.

Why This Matters

Strategic Market Access: Leveraging Indonesia’s position in East Asia opens a gateway for Tunisian products—particularly olive oil and dates—to a rapidly growing consumer base.
Balanced Trade: Accelerating the preferential trade agreement can help reduce Tunisia’s trade deficit with Indonesia and promote a more equitable exchange.
South‑South Cooperation: The partnership exemplifies a mutual‑benefit model for developing economies seeking diversified trade routes and knowledge sharing.

Next Steps

Finalize the Preferential Trade Agreement – Expected signatures within the next quarter.
Launch Promotional Campaigns – Targeted marketing of Tunisian olive oil in Indonesian retail and hospitality sectors.
Create the Economic & Scientific Forum – Formalize a platform for joint research, innovation, and business matchmaking.
Expand Academic Exchanges – Develop scholarship programs for Indonesian medical students in Tunisia.

Keywords: Tunisia‑Indonesia trade, preferential trade agreement, olive oil export, dates market, South‑South cooperation, Asian market access, parliamentary cooperation, economic forum, educational exchange.