Strengthening Economic Ties: President Prabowo Subianto’s Exclusive Meeting with US Corporates in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. INTI – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, accompanied by the Minister of Investment and the Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, attended an exclusive meeting with corporate members of the United States-Indonesia Society (USINDO) in Washington D.C., USA, on the afternoon of November 11 (local time). This meeting took place on the second day of President Prabowo's state visit to the United States, with a focus on strengthening cooperation in the fields of economy, investment, education, and defense between Indonesia and the United States.

During the meeting, President Prabowo emphasized the importance of support from American companies in driving Indonesia's economic growth. He outlined his administration's priorities, which are centered on sustainable economic development, food security, as well as investment in energy, infrastructure, and education sectors. The President also reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to creating a conducive investment climate for international partners, especially American companies.

"I am very pleased with the meeting today with the largest companies in America and the world. They are deeply involved in Indonesia's economy and development. They have been in Indonesia for a long time and continue to have confidence in Indonesia and its economy. I also encourage them to continue investing and participating in our development plans," said President Prabowo in a statement to the media.

Minister of Investment and Head of BKPM, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, who accompanied President Prabowo in the meeting, emphasized that the Indonesian Government warmly welcomes investments from the United States in various sectors, such as energy, technology, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. President Prabowo stressed his vision of accelerating economic growth through bureaucratic simplification and strict law enforcement, especially related to corruption issues.

"We are committed to fully supporting U.S. investors who wish to contribute to Indonesia's development. The Government of Indonesia also emphasizes the importance of sustainability in investments, including considering Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects and their social impact on local communities," Rosan stated.

The meeting with USINDO members was attended by 12 executives from major American companies that are already investing or interested in investing in Indonesia. Ted Osius, former Deputy Ambassador of the United States to Indonesia and a member of USINDO, expressed his appreciation for President Prabowo’s warm welcome and the statement of interest to deepen collaboration in achieving green economy and net-zero emission goals in Indonesia. Additionally, several companies expressed their commitment to supporting geothermal projects and carbon storage technologies in line with the Indonesian government’s initiatives.

"In December, I will bring a delegation of American entrepreneurs to Indonesia to explore business opportunities. These companies will come from various sectors, including energy, information technology, healthcare, infrastructure, education, retail, and finance. We are reaching out to all sectors because we are very interested in Indonesia. Indonesia is growing rapidly, and the opportunities are immense. It is clear that we will be warmly welcomed in Indonesia," said Ted Osius.

Also accompanying President Prabowo during this meeting were Foreign Minister Sugiono, Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Science, and Technology Stella Christie, Head of the Indonesian Mission in Washington D.C. Ida Bagus Made Bimantara, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. Participating companies in the meeting included Freeport McMoRan, S&P Global, GE Healthcare, Boeing, Capital Group, BP, Exxon Mobil, Citi, Caterpillar, Chevron, Georgetown University Indonesia Program, and Purdue University.

Based on data from the Ministry of Investment and BKPM from 2019 to the third quarter of 2024, the realization of U.S. investment in Indonesia is recorded at USD 13.41 billion. The top three sectors for U.S. investment are Mining (73.02%), Other Services (11.93%), and Basic Metals, Metal Products, Non-Machinery and Equipment Industries (4.09%). Meanwhile, the top three investment destinations are East Java (38.13%), Papua (26.61%), and Central Papua (13.66%).