IOA Global and Central Java Government Explore Investment and Vocational Cooperation
Singapore-based non-profit company Impact of Asia Limited (IOA) Global Pte Ltd is exploring long-term cooperation with the Central Java Provincial Government. The planned collaboration encompasses high-tech manufacturing investment, vocational education development, and workforce competency enhancement.
During an audience with Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi on Tuesday (14/7), IOA Global Executive Chairman Daryl Tan Chen Ming stated that his delegation’s visit to Central Java was an initial step to map potential cooperation with partner networks in Fujian and Xiamen, China. He noted that this meeting was still at the exploratory stage.
“This meeting is still an initial visit. Later, our partners will come in October, so we can finalise what needs to be worked on together,” he said in a written statement on Tuesday (14/7).
One of the partners planned to be brought in is a high-tech shoe manufacturing company from China. The company is said to be seriously exploring the construction of a production facility in Central Java. IOA also plans to bring investors from China and several European countries to see the potential locations firsthand. They will check government support, workforce readiness, and specific investment needs.
“This is a long-term commitment and project we are exploring. Not only in investment, but also in education,” Daryl said. According to him, Fujian has many high-tech manufacturing industries with the potential to be developed in Central Java. One of the main ideas is to build manufacturing facilities owned by Fujian investors in the region.
The cooperation is also directed towards education and human resource development. Young people from Central Java have the opportunity to pursue education or training in China, while Chinese experts can provide training in new technologies in Central Java. Daryl mentioned that his family has developed around 120 schools and universities in Xiamen for more than a century. This experience opens up opportunities for cooperation with universities in Central Java through exchanges of students, lecturers, information, knowledge, and experts.
“I think educational cooperation will bring both regions to a higher level. This education is also a long-term plan that can be carried out by both regions,” he said. He assessed that Central Java has strong capital as an investment location. According to him, the region is supported by developed infrastructure, industrial estates, and a business ecosystem.
IOA Global Chief Executive Razali Ramli added that Central Java has cultural proximity to the community and business players from Fujian. He noted that many entrepreneurs from Fujian already have business networks in the region. “Therefore, I think the culture has many similarities. So, it is easier for people or entrepreneurs from Fujian Province to come here,” he said.
On the other hand, Ahmad Luthfi stated that the regional government is ready to provide certainty, security, and assistance for prospective investors. The Central Java Provincial Government will also oversee the licensing process and offer a number of industrial estates and special economic zones according to company needs. He mentioned that labour-intensive industries are a priority because they can absorb a large workforce. Human resource readiness, he said, is supported by nearly 1,500 vocational schools, polytechnics, and Job Training Centres (BLK) directed to connect with company needs.
“Our BLKs are here to guarantee the skills of the workforce so they can be accepted by companies,” he added. For context, based on Central Java Provincial Government data, total Singaporean investment from 2022 to the first quarter of 2026 reached Rp32.158 trillion. This achievement places Singapore as the second-largest investor in Central Java. Specifically in the first quarter of 2026, Singapore was the largest contributor of foreign direct investment in the province, with a value of Rp3.333 trillion, or approximately 25.8 percent of total incoming foreign investment.