Chinese Chamber of Commerce Complains to Prabowo About Investment Barriers, Purbaya Responds

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudha Sadewa has responded to complaints raised by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to President Prabowo concerning investment barriers in Indonesia. The grievances include issues related to the policy on Export Proceeds from Natural Resources (DHE SDA), as well as plans for increases in taxes or mineral royalty rates. Purbaya stressed that these policies primarily aim to advance national interests, particularly in managing natural resources such as the proposed adjustment to mineral royalty tariffs. “Minerals are ours anyway, so it’s fine,” Purbaya said in Jakarta, quoted on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. He even asserted that if investors find Indonesia’s policies not aligned with their interests, they can choose to invest in other countries. “If others want to move, go ahead, find minerals elsewhere,” he stated. However, Purbaya noted that the implementation of policies on royalty rate increases or additional levies is merely a plan and has not yet been applied. “It’s not imposed yet; it’s just a plan,” Purbaya said. He added that for the DHE SDA policy, the government has prepared several exemptions for certain companies, including possible waivers for firms not using domestic financing. “As far as I know, there are exemptions for companies that don’t borrow money in Indonesia,” Purbaya remarked. Therefore, Purbaya asserted that the DHE SDA policy should not pose a significant issue for Chinese investors. Conversely, he mentioned having conveyed complaints to the Chinese side about the prevalence of business practices by some Chinese companies that are not fully compliant with regulations. “I’ve also complained to them; many Chinese entrepreneurs here conduct illegal business. I asked them to fix it, and they promised to warn them,” he said.