Indonesia, France Deepen Partnership in Investment and Bilateral Trade through High Level Business Council

President Prabowo Subianto and President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron attend the launch of the high-level business council on Thursday (05/28).

Minister for Investment and Downstreaming/Chairperson of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Rosan Roeslani welcomed the launch of the France–Indonesia High Level Business Council as a strategic measure to strengthen economic relations between Indonesia and France, as well as to accelerate the realization of investments and trade between the two countries.

The launch of the high-level business council took place on Thursday (05/28) in the presence of the President Prabowo and the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, as part of President Prabowo’s state visit to France.

“The establishment of the France-Indonesia High Level Business Council marks a significant milestone in strengthening the economic partnership between the two countries. This forum does not only serve as a platform for dialogue among business leaders, but also as a driving force for investment, trade, and strategic cooperation that delivers tangible benefits for both nations,” Rosan stated in his remarks on Friday (05/29).

The business forum brought together 30 leading industrial and corporate executives from Indonesia and France, representing a combined market capitalization of approximately US$1.3 trillion. The council is co-chaired by Chair of the France-Indonesia Business Council at MEDEF International and Chief Executive Officer of Danone Antoine de Saint-Affrique, together with Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Anindya Bakrie.

Rosan revealed that the launch of the business council also resulted in four new commercial agreements valued at US$3.5 billion, focusing on energy security, trade, and defense cooperation.

“The trust of the French business community in Indonesia continues to grow. The agreements reached demonstrate that Indonesia is regarded as a strategic partner with strong long-term growth prospects and an increasingly competitive investment climate,” Rosan remarked.

According to him, the business council will also play a crucial role in overseeing the implementation of various previously agreed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and investment commitments. During President Macron’s state visit to Indonesia in May 2025, a total of 27 MoUs valued at over US$11 billion were signed.

“Equally important is ensuring that all of these commitments are fully realized. Therefore, this forum will serve as a platform to identify obstacles, accelerate the resolution of various challenges, and ensure that investments run optimally,” he added.

The France-Indonesia Business Council aims a threefold increase in total bilateral trade by 2035. With full support from the Indonesian and French governments, Kadin Indonesia and MEDEF International will continue to strengthen the bilateral economic corridor in order to unlock new cooperation opportunities across various strategic sectors.

“We remain optimistic that economic relations between Indonesia and France will grow even stronger. Collaboration between the governments and the business community is key to fostering sustainable growth, creating employment opportunities, and enhancing the competitiveness of both countries amidst the dynamics of the global economy,” Rosan concluded. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (YA/LW)