World Seeks Certainty, James Riady Says Indonesia Has Strategic Assets to Attract Investment

JAKARTA, investortrust.id - Global geopolitical uncertainties are seen as opening up major opportunities for Indonesia to bolster its position as a strategic global investment destination.

This was stated by James Riady, Coordinating Vice Chairman for International Affairs of Kadin Indonesia, at the Kadin Monthly Economic Diplomatic Breakfast in Jakarta on Friday (8/5/2026).

According to him, global companies are now not only pursuing cost efficiency but also business certainty amid geopolitical pressures, supply chain disruptions, and volatility in energy and currencies. Indonesia is considered to possess a combination of strengths that are hard to find in other countries.

“Companies are no longer just chasing efficiency; they are chasing certainty. And Indonesia offers something rare: scale, stability, resources, and a foreign policy that keeps every door open,” said James.

He stated that Indonesia’s position is becoming increasingly strategic as the world begins to compete again for access to key commodities such as nickel, palm oil, and critical minerals. According to him, this momentum must be utilised to accelerate national industrial downstreaming.

“The question is no longer whether Indonesia is important or not. The question is how quickly Indonesia moves up the value chain,” he said.

James views downstreaming as the key to national economic transformation because it can shift the export pattern from raw materials to high-value-added products. This step is considered crucial for building long-term economic resilience.

“Downstreaming is a shift that changes the story, from exporting what we extract to exporting what we create. This is where value is built, resilience is built, and the future is built,” he said.

On the other hand, he also highlighted Indonesia’s economic growth of 5.61% in the first quarter of 2026. According to James, cross-ministerial and regulatory coordination shows that Indonesia is increasingly serious about maintaining growth momentum amid global pressures.

“We don’t need to be the loudest voice in the room. We just need to be the most consistent in growth, openness, and ambition,” he concluded.