The government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with South Africa through the inauguration of the Indonesia–South Africa High-Level Business Council (ISA-HLBC), a new platform designed to bolster strategic partnership between the two emerging economies.

The council was launched on Friday, November 21, 2025, in Johannesburg as part of the Indonesia–Africa CEO Forum 2025, where Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka voiced Indonesia’s full support for expanding economic diplomacy across the African continent.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Airlangga Hartarto, who accompanied the Vice President, said Indonesia − now classified as an upper-middle-income country − views stronger multilateralism and a credible G20 as essential foundations for its ongoing economic transformation.

“G20 remains a strategic forum for navigating global challenges, especially as unilateral policies threaten international trade stability,” Airlangga said as quoted in a statement on Sunday, November 23, 2025.

He extended Indonesia’s appreciation for South Africa’s G20 Presidency, which this year has placed inclusivity and global resilience at the forefront.

Airlangga emphasized that the establishment of the ISA-HLBC represents a “concrete step” to deepen strategic cooperation amid shifting global dynamics. He suggested that rapid changes in supply-chain structures, intensifying market competition, and adjustments to international trade rules require closer collaboration between governments and the private sector.

The launch of the business council marks a significant milestone in bilateral relations, laying the groundwork for more structured and sustainable cooperation.

“This is a strategic step to expand an economic partnership focused on value creation for both countries,” Airlangga said.

He noted that Indonesia and South Africa hold important positions in the global economic landscape. Both countries, he said, are key players in strengthening supply chain resilience, fostering rule-based trade, and creating mutually beneficial investment flows.

Close collaboration between public and private sectors, he added, will be critical in responding to global disruptions and seizing new growth opportunities. The two nations also share a vision of building an inclusive and sustainable global economic order, focusing on job creation, industrial development, SME empowerment, and enhanced competitiveness.

Priority sectors for cooperation include energy transition, food security, infrastructure, digital transformation, and strategic industries − with South Africa serving as a gateway to the African continent, while Indonesia positions itself as the primary entry point to ASEAN markets.

Showcasing QRIS

During the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, Vice President Gibran also introduced Indonesia’s QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) as an affordable and interoperable digital payment solution.

Airlangga noted that QRIS has already become a regional standard in Southeast Asia and is seen as a promising tool for expanding global financial inclusion.

“The President highlighted QRIS as a simple and low-cost digital innovation that has now been adopted by several ASEAN countries and even Japan,” Airlangga said.

Beyond digital payments, Indonesia brought several strategic issues to the G20 table, including food security, climate change, energy transition, disaster-risk reduction, and the promotion of humanitarian values in global governance.

As Indonesia continues to push for stronger economic ties with Africa, the formation of the ISA-HLBC signals Jakarta’s ambition to establish deeper partnerships, diversify markets, and build long-term resilience in an increasingly uncertain global economy.