Industrial Estates Confident £50 Million UK Partnership Will Boost Economic Contribution
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Industrial Estates Association (HKI) is confident that a cooperation agreement worth Rp1.17 trillion between Wiraraja Indonesia and the UK’s Polythene UK Ltd will spur the sector’s contribution to the national economy, driven by increased investment flows and manufacturing sector strengthening.
HKI Chairman Akhmad Ma’ruf Maulana stated that the entry of new investment is crucial to accelerating industrial growth while bolstering Indonesia’s economic competitiveness. “Currently, we need the rapid realisation of investment into Indonesia,” he said in a statement confirmed on Tuesday.
The cooperation was marked by the signing of a Joint Venture Agreement between PT Wiraraja Indonesia and Polythene UK Ltd, valued at approximately £50 million, at the Indonesian Embassy in London. The agreement focuses on investment, technology transfer, and the development of sustainable, value-added manufacturing industries.
The signing was the culmination of a series of business visits by PT Wiraraja Indonesia to the United Kingdom that began on 23 June 2026. The process was facilitated by the Indonesian Embassy in London, the Indonesia Investment Promotion Centre (IIPC) London, and the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/BKPM as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral investment flows and economic partnerships.
In a confirmed official statement from HKI, Indonesian Ambassador to the UK, Ireland, and the International Maritime Organization, Desra Percaya, said the cooperation reflects the growing trust between Indonesian and British businesses and a commitment to building long-term partnerships that add value for both nations.
Beyond strengthening Indonesia–UK economic relations, the agreement is also part of the implementation of the UK–Indonesia New Strategic Partnership, which is expected to strengthen industrial supply chains, accelerate technology transfer, create jobs, and promote sustainable industrial development in Indonesia.
Previously, the Ministry of Industry recorded that industrial estates in Indonesia have absorbed 2.35 million workers, a 15 percent increase from 2024, with realised investment reaching Rp6,744.58 trillion. Director General of Industrial Resilience, Regionalisation, and International Access, Tri Supondy, explained during a meeting with House of Representatives Commission VII on Monday (29 June) that Indonesia currently has 179 industrial estates covering a total area of 101,351.45 hectares with an occupancy rate of 57.20 percent.
These estates host 11,970 companies or tenants, with industrial estate area growth of 1,508.02 hectares. He noted that these achievements demonstrate that industrial estates have developed into centres of national manufacturing activity capable of attracting sustainable investment while enhancing Indonesia’s industrial competitiveness. Furthermore, Tri conveyed that the development of industrial estates has shown a positive trend in recent years, with the number of estates increasing by 51.69 percent since 2020, or an addition of 61 estates.