Kadin Complains to Luhut, Urges Prabowo to Give Businesspeople Breathing Space

The General Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Anindya Novyan Bakrie, revealed that he had met with the Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. He stated that the meeting was used to convey various aspirations from business actors amid global economic pressures.

“This morning we met with the DEN Chairman, Mr Luhut. We said, analogously, if entrepreneurs are like laying hens, they have been stressed since the war and are now scared,” Anindya said at the Kadin Indonesia National Coordination Meeting in Jakarta on Thursday (30/4/2026).

According to Anindya, the DEN holds a strategic position as a bridge between the business world and the government. The institution is considered capable of bridging various inputs due to its role in formulating policy recommendations to the President.

“The National Economic Council is a think tank for the President or the government. So we conveyed this so that it can be considered for joint input to the government,” he said.

In the meeting, he said his side brought several proposals for relaxations to give business actors room to breathe amid global uncertainties. One of the highlighted areas was relief in the financing and taxation sectors.

“Our suggestion is first to give them breathing space. What does breathing space look like? For example, provide some leeway here and there. For instance, credit relaxation, pay interest first but the principal gradually. Then suspension of fuel tax, and also suspension of export tax. This is, so to speak, to give breathing space to these laying hens. This is for all of us,” he said.

Besides relaxations, Kadin also assessed that there are still many obstacles in the trade and industry sectors that need to be resolved immediately. These range from export facilitation, licensing certainty such as the Work Plan and Budget (RKAB), to adjustments to prohibition and restriction regulations (lartas).

“We also want to clear the blockages. So that we can, so to speak, start to be a bit offensive,” Anindya said.

He emphasised the importance of strong signals from the government to maintain business optimism, particularly regarding the direction of investment and trade policies. Regulatory certainty is considered crucial so that the business world remains confident in taking expansion steps.

Nevertheless, Anindya said Kadin does not demand that all proposals be accommodated. The most important thing, according to him, is that the government can understand the real conditions faced by business actors.

“As a strategic partner, Kadin certainly provides input from the business world. Not all need to be followed, but at least find a way and understand the nuances. So earlier we said how to first give breathing space, right, so that we can strategise,” he concluded.