Australian investment delegation explores opportunities in Indonesia

A total of 39 business leaders from 27 leading Australian companies and investment firms spent four days concluding on Feb. 13, 2025, exploring business opportunities and meeting with prospective partners in Indonesia.

The high-level Australian investment delegation is the largest mission to the Southeast Asia region since the establishment of Investment Deal Teams which was a recommendation of Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. They attended the Mandiri Investment Forum, listening to presentations from Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani and Deputy State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Kartika Wirjoatmodjo.

The Australian investment delegation also met with business leaders and key organisations, including the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), the Indonesia Business Council, Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, and Indonesian Coordinating Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister  Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.

"Australia's trade and investment relationship with Indonesia is strong and growing thanks to five years of cooperation through our Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement," said Australian Chargé d'Affaires to Indonesia Gita Kamath. "Australia is increasing its role in the region under 'Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040,' including through missions like this which are critical to both of our countries."

Australia is the 11^th largest source of foreign direct investment in Indonesia, and investment from the country is expected to grow by 34 percent in 2024. Key Australian investments in Indonesia announced this week include the opening of a Western Sydney University campus in Surabaya City, East Java Province. Australian Development Investments has also committed US$8 million (about Rp130 billion) to Indonesian venture capital firm AC Ventures' Climate and Sustainability Fund.

Orica and Trifita Perkasa have also signed a A$20 million factory in East Kalimantan Province. The partnership is expected to create 50 highly skilled jobs in Indonesia.

“The quality and scale of this mission demonstrates how important Indonesia is to Australian investors,” said Jennifer Westacott, professor at Australia’s Business Champion for Indonesia who led the Australian investment delegation.

She added that Indonesia is a growing economy, and thus Australian investors understood that it is currently a good time to invest in Indonesia.