Bahlil Responds to Chinese Businessmen's Complaints Regarding Investment Climate in Indonesia

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia claims he has not yet received a copy of the letter from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce regarding complaints about the investment climate in Indonesia. Nevertheless, he has already received several inputs directly from businesspeople from China.

“Some have already communicated, and the Ambassador has also spoken to me,” Bahlil said at the Attorney General’s Office in Jakarta on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.

Additionally, the government is discussing adjustments to the coal production quota in the 2026 Work Plan and Budget (RKAB). According to Bahlil, this policy does not cause any problems.

“The RKAB has been adjusted and there are no issues,” Bahlil stated.

Previously, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to President Prabowo Subianto. The letter contained complaints about the state of the investment climate in Indonesia.

In the letter, the businesspeople claimed to be facing various obstacles that they considered disruptive to business continuity. They stated that they had invested significantly, complied with regulations, and contributed to Indonesia’s economic development.

However, the investors assessed that the obstacles did not only stem from increasingly strict regulations but also from the implementation of policies on the ground, which was deemed inconsistent and created uncertainty for foreign investors.

“This problem has greatly disrupted normal business activities, directly weakening long-term investment confidence, and causing widespread concern among Chinese investment companies regarding the business climate and their future prospects in Indonesia,” the businesspeople wrote in the letter.