Dhaka, January 22 (AseanAll) — The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Bangladesh and Nepal, Listyowati, officially presented her Letters of Credence to the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Mohammed Shabuddin, during a state ceremony at Bangabhaban, Dhaka, on January 22,2026.
The presentation of the Letters of Credence took place four days after Ambassador Listyowati's arrival in Dhaka on January 17, 2026.
The presentation of the Letters of Credence marked the beginning of Ambassador Listyowati's term of office and served as a strategic momentum to strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Bangladesh, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and energy cooperation, which have long been key pillars of the relationship between the two countries. Over the past five years, bilateral trade between Indonesia and Bangladesh has consistently averaged around USD 3 billion per year, with a target of reaching approximately USD 3.6 billion by 2025. Indonesia is Bangladesh's third-largest trading partner, particularly as a supplier of coal, palm oil, industrial raw materials, and food products, which play a crucial role in supporting Bangladesh's energy and industrial security.
On this occasion, Ambassador Listyowati conveyed the importance of cooperation between the two countries in promoting concrete solutions within the framework of the Indonesia–Bangladesh Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), to improve market access, strengthen the trade balance, and encourage diversification of both countries' superior value-added products.
Listyowati also expressed Indonesia's readiness to support and participate in energy projects in Bangladesh, including through government-to-government (G-to-G) cooperation opportunities. Implementation of this cooperation has been explored through state-owned enterprise (SOE)-to-SOE, business-to-business, and capacity building schemes, in line with the Indonesia–Bangladesh Energy Cooperation MoU. This commitment builds on the results of Indonesia's High-Level Economic Delegation (HLED) to Bangladesh in May 2025, led by Indonesian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha C. Nasir. It also affirms Indonesia's role as a key partner in Bangladesh's energy security, including as a major coal supplier.
In recent years, bilateral economic relations between Indonesia and Bangladesh have strengthened, marked by, among other things, the planned opening of the Alfamart Indonesia retail network in Bangladesh and the continued investment of PT Jafpa Comfeed Indonesia in the livestock sector. This Indonesian investment demonstrates Indonesia's concrete contribution to job creation and human resource capacity building.
In terms of market potential, Bangladesh has a population of approximately 175 million, with a growing middle class estimated to reach 20 percent, or approximately 40 million, by 2025. With relatively high and stable economic growth, averaging above 6.8 percent since 2011, Bangladesh is a strategic partner for Indonesia and offers significant opportunities for increased trade and mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
In addition to economic cooperation, Ambassador Listyowati emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships in other areas, including security and defense.
On the same occasion, Listyowati also stated that Indonesia will serve as Chair of the Developing Eight (D-8) and hopes that Bangladesh will actively participate in various D-8 agendas and initiatives to encourage cooperation between developing countries, particularly in the halal economy, blue economy, digital transformation, and sustainable development. Furthermore, Indonesia and Bangladesh continue to strengthen cooperation in various international organizations and forums in the region.
At the same time, Indonesia is also promoting the strengthening of people-to-people cooperation, including through the provision of scholarships, as part of efforts to strengthen people-to-people ties and human resource development between the two countries.
In response, the President of Bangladesh expressed his appreciation and support for Indonesia's commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields, including economics, defense, and counterterrorism, as well as encouraging the strengthening of people-to-people contact and connectivity between the two countries.
For additional information, the number of Indonesian citizens (WNI) in Bangladesh is currently recorded at around 555, most of whom are housewives and married to local citizens. The Indonesian Embassy in Dhaka provides consular and other public services for Indonesian citizens, as well as serving Bangladeshi citizens who wish to visit Indonesia.
Indonesia and Bangladesh have established diplomatic relations since 1972, and for more than five decades, relations between the two countries have continued to develop positively in various political, economic, social, and cultural fields. Next year will mark the 55th anniversary of Indonesia-Bangladesh diplomatic relations, which is an important momentum to further strengthen cooperation and strategic partnership between the two countries.
The Letter of Credence presentation ceremony was carried out solemnly in accordance with state protocol and marks the first milestone in strengthening Indonesian diplomacy in Bangladesh in the new period, with a focus on cooperation that is oriented towards tangible results and mutual benefit.
Ambassador Listyowati is a career diplomat appointed by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on October 8, 2025. Previously, she served as Director of South and Central Asia at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
