

Japan-Indonesia
In July 2005, Japan and Indonesia formally began negotiations on a bilateral free trade and economic agreement. Japan has more investment tied up in Indonesia than in any other Southeast Asian country. And Tokyo is particularly concerned about access to Indonesia’s natural resources, especially gas and oil. Indonesia is currently Japan’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas.
The two governments aimed to reach a deal by the end of 2006 but it took two years. The pact was signed on 20 August 2007 and went into effect on 1 July 2008. As with JPEPA, a small number of Indonesian nurses and healthcare workers are allowed into Japan to work temporarily under the agreement, provided they pass Japanese language examinations.
last update: May 2012
Articles
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12-Aug-2010 Japan befuddled by elderly care debate
Wahyudin dreams of becoming a full-fledged caregiver, if not a certified nurse, in Japan. But the Indonesian worker must first pass the required Japanese-language national certification examination, which is far from easy. -
22-Jul-2009 Mainichi Indonesian nurse forced to drop out of Japan training program for health reasons
One of the first ever group of Indonesian nursing trainees — dispatched to Japan last year based on the Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement — has dropped out, it has been learned. -
16-Apr-2009 Yomiuri Shimbun Foreign nurse, carer intake slow / Facilities worried about extra burdens when hiring Indonesians
Under a bilateral economic partnership agreement signed by Japan and Indonesia in August 2007, Japan is supposed to accept 1,000 Indonesian nurses and care workers over a two-year period. However, due to a lack of preparation, only about 200 Indonesian nurses and caregivers arrived in Japan in the first year. -
9-Aug-2008 Japan gets lift from Indonesian nurses
About 200 Indonesian care-givers and nurses have arrived in Japan to take part in the two nations’ economic partnership agreement, officials said. -
1-Aug-2008 ABC Indonesian nurses, care workers to head to Japan
Japan says about 200 Indonesian care workers and nurses are scheduled to travel to the country in August under a bilateral economic partnership agreement. -
27-Jul-2008 Japan Focus The Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership: Agreement between equals?
The Japanese side is strongly selling the concept of capacity-building in Indonesia in key areas such as the auto parts industry. Despite such promises, it is difficult to envision how such nascent industries will compete with the now cheaper Japanese imports. -
1-Jul-2008 Indonesia-Japan economic partnership agreement goes into effect tomorrow
Tomorrow will be a historic day for Indonesia and Japan as the two countries sign an economic partnership agreement (EPA) which will go into effect on July 1, 2008. -
27-Jun-2008 Jakarta Post RI warned of toxic waste from Japan
Environmental groups have warned that Japan could "dispose waste" in Indonesia under an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) the countries signed last year. -
2-Jun-2008 Note exchange marks effective RI-Japan EPA
Indonesia and Japan have effectively started bilateral economic cooperation under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) framework starting on July 1. -
19-May-2008 Reuters Ageing Japan to get first foreign nurses - report
Japan is set to accept nurses and elderly-care workers from Indonesia, possibly as soon as July, the financial daily Nikkei said on Friday, as the country struggles to care for its rapidly growing ranks of old people. -
20-Apr-2008 HDR Japan Diet to open door to foreign nurses, care workers
The Diet (Japan’s Parliament) is set to approve an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Indonesia, which will open the door to foreign nurses and care workers for the first time in history, government officials said. -
15-Nov-2007 Jakarta Post RI official says Japan set to ratify economic deal
The Japanese parliament is expected to soon start the ratification process for the recently signed economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Indonesia, an official says. -
20-Aug-2007 Jakarta Post EPA offers opportunities and challenges
According to Indonesian Employers Association chairman Sofyan Wanandi, there is no guarantee of an increase in Japanese investment as a result of the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement signed today -
20-Aug-2007 Kyodo Abe, Yudhoyono sign FTA, agree to tackle climate change
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday signed a bilateral free trade agreement and confirmed a shared commitment to tackling global warming beyond 2012. -
19-Aug-2007 Jakarta Post Indonesia likely to be the loser in Japan agreement
Analysts say an economic partnership agreement due to be signed next week between Indonesia and Japan will do more to benefit Japanese companies than domestic Indonesian businesses. -
6-Aug-2007 Antara News Implementation of RI-Japan EPA to begin in November
The Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which is scheduled to be signed by the two countries` heads of governemnts on August 20 is expected to begin to be implemented in November, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said on Friday. -
9-Jul-2007 RI-Japan EPA final draft turned into legal document
Indonesian and Japanese legal consultants at the end of last week finished processing the final draft of the planned Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the two countries, a diplomat said. -
6-Jul-2007 Indonesia and Japan agree to sign FTA
Trade ministers from Japan and Indonesia have agreed the two nations will sign a bilateral free trade agreement when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits Indonesia in August, a senior Japanese official said Friday. -
28-Jun-2007 EPA yet to set quota for Indonesian workers
Final draft of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Indonesia and Japan has not ruled a quota for Indonesian skilled workers to be employed in Japan, an Indonesiantop official said Saturday. -
28-Jun-2007 Under EPA, RI must improve Japan’s business confidence
With the planned signing of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan , one of the important things Indonesia will have to do is to improve Japan’s business confidence (in Indonesia), an Indoneisan trade official said.