Global Geopolitics Increasingly Uncertain, Kadin Urges Businesses to Be More Adaptive

Jakarta – Kadin Indonesia, through its Vice Chairman for Foreign Affairs Coordination, James T. Riady, is urging business actors in the country to be more adaptive in responding to the increasingly uncertain global dynamics. He emphasised that global turbulence is now a phenomenon that occurs more frequently and must be faced with thorough preparedness. “We will always face turbulences that are becoming more frequent day by day. This has become the new normal. So, we must learn how to respond smartly and adapt intelligently to the existing global situation,” said James in his statement on Friday, 10 April 2026. Although facing short-term challenges, James assessed that Indonesia’s economic prospects in the medium to long term remain strong. According to him, this is supported by the shift of the global economic centre to the Pacific region, which includes the United States, China, and Indonesia. “In the Pacific, that means the United States, China, and also Indonesia,” he stated. James added that Indonesia’s geographic position provides a strategic advantage in international trade, as it lies on the main route of global trade flows. “And Indonesia has an extraordinary geographic strategy. The stretch from west to east takes about seven hours by plane. So, much of international trade must pass through Indonesia,” said James. In facing global uncertainty, James assessed that the government’s steps in maintaining economic stability are on the right track. However, business actors are still required to enhance their adaptation capabilities to rapid changes. He also reminded that global pressures such as inflation and rising interest rates are unavoidable challenges. Therefore, Kadin encourages the business world to start optimising sectors that are relatively resilient to global turbulence, especially the domestic market as the main pillar of economic growth. “And that is why we must seek opportunities that are anti-inflationary and counter-cyclical, meaning the domestic market. So, the domestic market must be developed, domestic consumption must be developed,” he said.