A delegation of the Indonesian Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming went for an Australian tour on March 19-20, 2025 offering invesment opportunities and bilateral cooperation with business communities in Down Under.

Led by Deputy Minister of Investment and Downstream Industry/Deputy Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Todotua Pasaribu, the visit included key meetings with government officials, investors, and business leaders, culminating in his keynote speech at the Australia-Indonesia Business Forum attended by 40 Australian companies.

Organized in collaboration with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), the business forum focused on investment opportunities and bilateral cooperation. Pasaribu highlighted Indonesia’s US$618 billion downstream industry potential and strategic national projects (PSN) supporting President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita vision and mission statement, including the 8 percent economic growth target.

“In Asta Cita, several key sectors offer great opportunities for foreign investors, including renewable energy, downstream industries, digital economy, infrastructure, and education,” Pasaribu said as quoted in a statement on Friday, March 25, 2025.

He emphasized the 77 priority National Strategic Projects for 2025-2029, involving private sector participation in salt, soda ash, palm oil, coconut, seaweed, nickel, tin, bauxite, and copper downstreaming programs.

Pasaribu further underscored the importance of downstream industry investments and green energy to sustain economic growth.

“Indonesia has identified 28 commodities for downstream development, representing a US$618 billion investment opportunity. We invite Australian investors to seize these prospects in priority sectors such as nickel and bauxite downstreaming, renewable energy development, and digital infrastructure,” he said.

Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell responded positively, acknowledging Indonesia as a vital partner.

“Australia has advanced technology in food production, which could benefit Indonesia. We also see strong potential in collaborating on Indonesia’s new capital city development,” Farrell noted.

The Australia-Indonesia Business Forum was attended by key figures, including New South Wales Treasurer Courtney Housos and Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong. Supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, KADIN, Fitzpatrick & Co, and KPMG, the forum also addressed Indonesia-Australia relations through the IA-CEPA agreement and highlighted successful Australian investments in Indonesia.

KADIN Vice Chairman for International Relations Bernardino M. Vega stressed the need to strengthen business-to-business (B2B) partnerships.

“Indonesia and Australia share a strategic vision for ASEAN and should expand cooperation in critical minerals and other sectors,” he said.

Between 2019 and 2024, Australia ranked as the 10th largest investor in Indonesia, with a total investment of US$2.7 billion. The top sectors for Australian investment included mining (59.4 percent), hospitality (7.9 percent), other services (7.1 percent), real estate and industrial estates (4.7 percent), and fisheries (4.7 percent).