Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, was the keynote speaker at the Roundtable Luncheon organized by the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) in Washington DC on Thursday (November 21, 2024). The event was attended by major corporations such as FedEx, ExxonMobil, S&P Global, BP, and Freeport-McMoRan, who participated in strategic dialogue aimed at strengthening economic cooperation between the United States and Indonesia. US-ABC Senior Vice President Marc Mealy expressed confidence that economic ties between the two countries will continue to grow, and hoped that the change in leadership in both nations would open new opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations across various sectors. In his presentation, Minister Airlangga shared optimism about the strengthening of business ties and provided updates on Indonesia’s economic progress, government priorities, and strategies for achieving the vision of Indonesia Gold 2045.
Minister Airlangga highlighted Indonesia's robust economic performance, with a 5% growth in the first half of 2024, controlled inflation within the target range, and a stable debt-to-GDP ratio, which he described as a solid foundation for national economic stability. He also outlined President Prabowo's policies focusing on key sectors. Several strategic cooperation programs discussed included food estate development, renewable energy projects like hydropower and geothermal, and industrial downstreaming initiatives. Minister Airlangga also reiterated Indonesia’s commitment to reform and international standards, particularly through its OECD membership and reforms in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters. He encouraged U.S. businesses to invest in Indonesia’s special economic zones, which offer incentives for investors, and concluded the meeting by inviting American companies to contribute to Indonesia’s sustainable development.
