US Believes Indonesia Has Potential to Secure Investment Schemes Similar to Philippines' LEC
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The United States believes Indonesia has the opportunity to obtain infrastructure investment schemes similar to the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) in the Philippines through the expansion of Washington’s cooperation in Southeast Asia alongside the USTDA and MCC.
The US Department of State held a media briefing regarding the LEC, monitored online from Jakarta on Thursday, featuring US representatives including Ambassador Heather Variava, US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Head Thomas Hardy, and Acting Chief of Staff of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Dan Petrie.
Variava stated that Washington supports various economic corridors in several regions, including Africa and Central Asia, and does not rule out the possibility of developing similar schemes in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.
She emphasised that the key to the success of schemes like the LEC is a three-pillar partnership, namely the host country’s government, the US government, and the private sector, which she noted also applies to new cooperation opportunities in Indonesia.
“Therefore, uniting these three pillars is the key to success. We are also constantly open to discussing new opportunities for further commercial agreements,” said Vargaiva.
Dan Petrie from the MCC revealed that the agency is currently implementing a compact programme in Indonesia focusing on energy infrastructure financing, in line with similar ongoing projects in the energy sector in the Philippines.
According to Petrie, the MCC’s focus is not limited to individual transactions, but rather on improving a country’s regulatory and operational environment so that private investment can grow more broadly, while serving as a foundation for subsequent investment from other US agencies.
Meanwhile, USTDA Head Thomas Hardy mentioned that his agency has a long track record of working with Indonesia in the energy, digital infrastructure, and critical minerals sectors, supported by the active involvement of both the governments and the private sectors of the two nations.
“This active and dynamic private sector is also what attracts the interest of American companies to increase their activities in various countries in the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia. We have long appreciated the partnership established with both the government and the private sector in Indonesia,” said Hardy.
The inaugural Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) Investment Forum took place on 10-11 September 2026 in Manila, Philippines, bringing together approximately 600 international investors, industry leaders, project developers, and government officials from various partner countries.
The forum offered cooperation for the Subic-Clark Natural Gas Ecosystem project valued at US$4.6 billion, Sangley International Airport valued at US$4.1 billion, as well as the operations and maintenance of the Metro Manila Subway valued at US$3 billion and the North-South Commuter Rail valued at US$4 billion.
The LEC was formed in 2024 by the Philippines, the US, and Japan. In May 2026, eight countries—Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom—officially joined as partner nations, and in September 2026, Spain and the European Union also officially joined.