Not Just China, Indonesian Businesspeople Aim to Target Many Countries to Secure Foreign Capital

Efforts to attract foreign investment to Indonesia are becoming increasingly aggressive. President Prabowo Subianto himself has taken the initiative by visiting various countries and securing several expressions of interest in international investment cooperation. Businesspeople are not standing idly by and are opting for a strategy of opening direct representative offices in several key countries, starting with Shenzhen, China. This step is part of a proactive approach by industry players to expand access to global investors, amid intensifying competition between countries to secure foreign capital. “The opening of a representative office in Shenzhen, China, and plans to expand to Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia represent our concrete efforts to build direct connectivity with the world’s economic centres,” said the Chairman of the Indonesian Industrial Estates Association (HKI), Akhmad Ma’ruf Maulana, to CNBC Indonesia on Thursday (16/4/2026). A physical presence in these countries is deemed essential to accelerate communication and the realisation of investments into domestic industrial estates. This will make it easier to follow up on previously agreed memoranda of understanding, with a focus on strengthening global market penetration, particularly in China. Businesspeople assess that the current global conditions actually open up opportunities for Indonesia to compete more strongly in attracting investors seeking more stable new markets. Amid global uncertainties, including rising geopolitical tensions in several regions, industry players see new opportunities for Indonesia to emerge as an alternative investment destination. “We also realise that the current global dynamics, including tensions in the Middle East region, present their own challenges. However, we believe that behind every challenge there is always an opportunity; Indonesia has stability, potential, and strong appeal to become an alternative investment destination amid global uncertainties,” said Ma’ruf. Several initial results are already visible. HKI claims to have achieved incoming investments as a result of this direct approach, which also serves as a foundation for expanding efforts to other countries. “Through close collaboration with international partners, we have begun to achieve several investment accomplishments that prove this step is on the right track. This is a momentum for all of us to keep moving forward,” Ma’ruf stated.