DPR Urges Indonesia to Shift Focus from Investment MoUs to Project Realisation
A member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) from the Gerindra Party, Azis Subekti, has stated that Indonesia needs to change its paradigm in viewing the success of investment cooperation. He argued that the large number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with partner countries is not yet an adequate measure of success if they are not promptly realised into concrete projects.
Azis noted that Indonesia currently holds significant global appeal. Various partner countries continue to expand cooperation with Indonesia, including the United States, Japan, China, France, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Russia, Brazil, and India.
According to Azis, the value of investment commitments announced in these various collaborations reaches approximately US$175 billion. This figure demonstrates that the world views Indonesia as a country with substantial economic potential.
However, he cautioned that investment commitments must not stop at mere announcements. The government must ensure that every agreement is followed through to the realisation stage. “The issue is not whether Indonesia has opportunities. The issue is whether state institutions can turn opportunities into results,” Azis said in a statement on Tuesday (30/6/2026).
He assessed that the main obstacle to investment in Indonesia lies in the implementation phase. Several issues such as licensing, spatial planning, cross-institutional coordination, regulatory certainty, and land acquisition remain challenges frequently faced by investors.
Azis explained that investors generally understand business risks. The problem, however, is the uncertainty in the project execution process. “Investors are not afraid of risk. They are afraid of uncertainty. Risk can be calculated, uncertainty cannot,” he stated.
According to Azis, Indonesia needs to learn from several countries that have successfully transformed investment into national economic strength. He cited South Korea, China, Vietnam, and Malaysia as examples of nations capable of accelerating investment realisation due to strong institutional coordination and a clear results-oriented focus.