SMBC Unveils Indonesia's Potential to Become a Growth Hub in the Region

Henoch Munandar, President Director of SMBC Indonesia, candidly addressed the global economic conditions, which are full of uncertainty, noting that the geopolitical tensions are increasingly affecting the national economy. Despite these conditions, he remains optimistic about resilience and a strong sense of optimism, and about maintaining economic stability, with Indonesia believed to be able to become a regional growth hub. ‘We are witnessing a dynamic world, where global supply chains, technology, energy transition, and international investment flows are forming a new normal, characterised by volatility, turmoil, uncertainty, complexity, and all in ambiguous or unclear conditions. In the midst of that uncertainty, we hope Indonesia will show resilience and strong optimism, with economic stability maintained due to the large domestic market,’ he said during the opening of the SMBC Indonesia Economic Forum 2026 on Tuesday (19/5/2026).

That optimism is not unfounded, given that Indonesia can capitalise on global dynamics through strong competitiveness by expanding business opportunities and creating a sustainable economy. To bolster this optimism and push the economy forward, SMBC Indonesia organised a forum to hear strategic perspectives on the direction of government policy as well as potential investments and downstreaming programmes, and domestic political developments. The theme, ‘Resilience in a Shifting Global Landscape’, brought together a number of key players in the economic sector. Through various discussions, stakeholders are expected to take appropriate actions in response to global dynamics.

‘We see the importance of maintaining stability as a foundation, while keeping momentum; this requires close collaboration among government, the public sector and the private sector. We organised the SMBC Indonesia Economic Forum to serve as a constructive dialogue space among stakeholders, to respond to global dynamics, broaden horizons, strengthen optimism and provide insights for future investment,’ he explained.