Kadin: Indonesia Always Survives Crises and Emerges Stronger

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Anindya Bakrie, emphasised that Indonesia has a strong track record in facing various global economic crises and becoming stronger after overcoming them. According to him, every pressure that occurs actually becomes a momentum to strengthen economic fundamentals and drive improvements ahead. “In the business world, we see from crisis to crisis, in fact, despite criticisms, Indonesia always survives and gets better,” he said during the Kadin Business Pulse Q1 2026 press conference in Jakarta on Friday. Anindya explained that challenges such as the current weakening of the rupiah exchange rate are not separate from global dynamics, particularly related to US dollar movements and changes in investor behaviour in seeking liquidity. Even assets that have long been considered safe havens, such as gold, are experiencing pressure due to global market dynamics. He assessed that this condition is more caused by liquidity withdrawals rather than a deterioration in economic fundamentals. “Because what the market is looking for is anything that can provide liquidity. So as long as liquidity is seen in a currency, including the rupiah, it certainly becomes a possibility to withdraw,” he said. In facing this situation, Kadin encourages the government and business actors to strengthen the export sector as a source of foreign exchange. Non-oil and gas products such as textiles, garments, furniture, footwear, and electronics are seen to have great potential to continue being pushed into the global market. “Anything that can generate foreign exchange must be encouraged,” he said. Besides exports, investment also becomes an important factor in maintaining economic stability. Anindya emphasised that investment flows not only bring in foreign exchange but also create jobs and strengthen domestic economic activities. On the other hand, he highlighted the importance of maintaining cash flow amid global economic pressures. According to him, although Indonesia’s balance sheet remains relatively strong, pressure on the income side is felt almost worldwide. He gave an example of the pressure on global oil prices, which impacts the portion of subsidies provided by the government. Furthermore, in the context of the business world, Anindya sees two main responses to the current conditions. Some business actors choose to carry out efficiency while taking advantage of the momentum to invest, while others tend to hold back on expansion and focus on survival. As a strategic partner of the government, Kadin continues to strive to provide input while opening new opportunities in the trade and investment sectors, he said. That step is considered important to maintain the continuity of employment amid global challenges, including the impact of digitalisation and technological developments.