After Writing to Prabowo, Chinese Businesspeople Air Grievances to Three Ministers

Chinese businesspeople affiliated with the China Chamber of Commerce have voiced concerns about a series of Indonesian government policies they say burden the business sector. The complaints were voiced at a meeting with three ministers: Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia; Investment Minister and Danantara chief executive Rosan Roeslani; and Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. The meeting took place at the office of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon, 19 May 2026.

‘This is with Chinese businesspeople… we are listening to their issues. If we can resolve them, we will,’ Purbaya said when asked about the complaints.

Purbaya explained that the concerns had already been conveyed to President Prabowo Subianto via a letter from the China Chamber of Commerce (KADIN China). The letter highlighted several policies perceived to burden business, including a plan to require foreign exchange retention for export proceeds of natural resources (DHE SDA). The circulated letter states that 50% of export proceeds must be placed in Indonesian state-owned banks for at least one year, a policy the letter argues could disrupt company liquidity.

The Chinese business community also complained about proposed increases in royalties for mineral and coal commodities and export duties. Officials warned that such measures could raise production costs for the mining industry and for nickel downstreaming in Indonesia. ‘There are many KADIN leaders from China who wrote to the President,’ Purbaya noted.

Speaking at the meeting, Bahlil said attendees discussed various obstacles facing Chinese investors, particularly in the mining sector and downstream activities. The aim was that the meeting would yield solutions benefiting both investors and the government. ‘Earlier, I, Mr Rosan, Minister of Investment, Mr Purbaya, Minister of Finance, and the ambassador invited Chinese investors already operating here. We held a coordination meeting on what obstacles they face. We want companies to survive, and the state to secure revenue,’ Bahlil said.

The Chinese entrepreneurs also sought certainty of feedstock supplies for downstream industries, such as bauxite and nickel. ‘They want guaranteed supply of bauxite and nickel,’ Bahlil added, and I said it’s not a problem because this is an upstream/downstream issue.

Asked whether the meeting was a follow-up to the China Chamber of Commerce’s letter to Prabowo about investment in Indonesia, Bahlil denied it. He said there had been no such development and that, during his tenure as Investment Minister and head of BKPM, evaluations are routinely conducted every four to six months.