Indonesia and France Launch Business Council to Triple Bilateral Trade
Indonesia and France have entered a new phase of bilateral economic relations through the Indonesia–France CEO Forum 2026 and the official launch of the France–Indonesia High-Level Business Council (FI-HLBC) in Paris on Thursday, 28 May 2026. The launch of the first high-level business council between the two nations took place at the Hotel de Marigny, part of the Palais de l’Elysée complex, with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and French President Emmanuel Macron in attendance.
The FI-HLBC, established by Indonesia’s Kamar Dagang dan Industri (Kadin) and MEDEF International, serves as a permanent business-to-business platform to strengthen trade, investment, and long-term economic partnerships between Indonesia and France. The council comprises around 30 leading industrialists and companies from both countries with a combined market capitalisation of $1.3 trillion. It is co-chaired by Antoine de Saint-Affrique, Chairman of MEDEF International’s France–Indonesia Business Council and CEO of Danone, and Anindya N. Bakrie, Kadin Indonesia’s Chairman and CEO of Bakrie & Brothers.
The forum, held from 15:00 to 17:30 Paris time, provided a high-level strategic platform for business leaders from both nations to deepen economic relations, expand mutual investment, and identify new collaboration opportunities across priority sectors. The launch of the FI-HLBC was a key agenda item, designed to facilitate investment, enhance downstreaming, and ensure structured, sustainable economic relations between the two countries.
During the opening session, Saint-Affrique and Bakrie outlined their vision for strengthening the Indonesia-France economic corridor. French Ecological Transition Minister Monique Barbut and Indonesian Investment and Downstreaming Minister Rosan Roeslani delivered special addresses on sustainable economic cooperation and industrial transformation.
A significant agenda was the signing of commercial deliverables, with four new commercial agreements totalling $3.5 billion focused on energy security, trade, and defence sector cooperation during President Prabowo’s state visit to France.
Sector-specific discussions were held across four clusters. In mining and energy, industry leaders including Christel Bories of Eramet, Tony Wenas of PT Freeport Indonesia, Damien Havard of HDF Energy, Simon Aloysius Mantiri of Pertamina, Vincent Sciandra of Metron, Maxime Séché of Séché Environnement, and Marc Giroussens of Artelia discussed strategic mineral and energy collaboration opportunities.
The defence, security, and technology session featured Joga Dharma Setiawan of DefendID/LEN, Pierre-Eric Pommellet of Naval Group, Nicolas Groult of KNDS, Sigit Santosa of PT Pindad, Pascale Sourisse of Thales, and Wouter Van Wersch of Airbus.
Human resources development, food security, and healthcare were addressed by James Riady of Lippo Group, Saint-Affrique of Danone, and Arif Rachmat of Triputra Agro Persada Group.
Industry and manufacturing discussions included Florent Menegaux of Michelin, Anindya Bakrie of Bakrie & Brothers and VKTR, and Omar Rahmadani of Djarum Group.
A ‘Doing Business in France’ session, led by MEDEF International CEO Philippe Gautier and Business France CEO Louis Margueritte, provided insights into the French investment climate and business opportunities. The forum concluded with a synthesis by Francisca Liem, Chair of Kadin Indonesia’s France Bilateral Committee and CEO of Masari Group.
The event culminated at 17:00 Paris time with the arrival of Presidents Macron and Prabowo, who officially launched the FI-HLBC. Bakrie presented the memorandum of understanding between Kadin Indonesia and MEDEF International, while Saint-Affrique outlined the progress of bilateral economic relations and future collaboration directions.
Both presidents delivered keynote speeches reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the strategic economic partnership between Indonesia and France.
The FI-HLBC aims to triple bilateral trade by 2035. Beyond fostering new collaborations, the council is committed to implementing previously signed memoranda of understanding and investment pledges. Given that during President Macron’s state visit to Indonesia in May 2025, the two nations signed 27 MOUs worth over $11 billion, this commitment is deemed crucial. With support from both governments, Kadin Indonesia and MEDEF International aim to address existing investment and business barriers to ensure optimal realisation of commitments and strengthen the Indonesia-France economic corridor.
This information was provided during the official Indonesia-France CEO Forum 2026 agenda and joint statement by Kadin Indonesia and MEDEF International regarding the launch of the France-Indonesia High-Level Business Council in Paris on 28 May 2026.