Justice Minister: Indonesia's International Private Law Regulations Still Use Dutch Colonial Legacy

JAKARTA — Justice Minister Supratman Andi Agtas has disclosed that Indonesia’s regulation of international private law currently still relies on legislation inherited from the Dutch East Indies.

The Gerindra politician contends that these outdated regulations are no longer sufficient to address various cross-border legal issues.

“Currently, the regulation concerning international private law that protects legal activities of Indonesian legal entities in contact with foreign legal entities still refers to Dutch East Indies arrangements,” Supratman said during the inaugural meeting of the special committee (Pansus) for the International Private Law (HPI) bill between the government and the Indonesian Parliament on Wednesday (11 March 2026).

Supratman noted that globalisation has created increasingly complex cross-border legal relationships.

Therefore, the government believes new regulations are needed that specifically govern international private law to protect and provide legal certainty against various global challenges.

“Thus, the formulation of the HPI bill constitutes a strategic step to provide legal protection and certainty for legal entities, provide comprehensive guidance for judges, and enhance national competitiveness whilst increasing foreign confidence in Indonesia’s legal system within one systematic and integrated regulation,” Supratman said.

Deputy Chair of Parliament Sufmi Dasco Ahmad stated that the establishment of the special committee resulted from consultation meetings between parliamentary leadership and faction leaders.

“In accordance with the results of the consultation meeting in place of the Deliberation Body meeting, the Indonesian Parliament decided on 12 November 2025 that the Special Committee for the Industrial Design Bill and the Special Committee for the International Private Law Bill have been established,” Dasco said.