Jakarta, INTI - Indonesia is exploring opportunities to expand cooperation with the United States across a range of strategic sectors, including food security, aviation, mining, defense, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI), as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral economic ties.
Investment and Technology Transfer Take Center Stage
The discussion took place during a meeting between Indonesia's Ambassador to the United States, Indroyono Soesilo, and representatives of leading U.S. companies in Washington, D.C., on July 28, 2026. The meeting was organized at the initiative of the US-ASEAN Business Council.
According to Indroyono, Indonesia–U.S. economic relations should extend beyond trade figures and focus on creating long-term value through investment, industrial development, job creation, human capital enhancement, and technology transfer.
"The real measure of our economic partnership is not trade volume alone, but how trade and investment strengthen national industries, generate employment, improve workforce capabilities, and introduce advanced technologies to Indonesia," he said.
The meeting brought together representatives from major American companies, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Freeport-McMoRan, Cargill, Caterpillar, PepsiCo, NVIDIA, Walmart Foundation, and Chubb, all of which have the potential to deepen collaboration across various strategic industries.
Among them, NVIDIA is working with Indonesia's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology to support AI talent development, reinforcing the country's efforts to build a competitive digital workforce.
Significant Room for Trade Growth
Tessal Maharizky Febrian, Director of the Indonesia Investment Promotion Center (IIPC) New York, stated that U.S. investment in Indonesia reached approximately US$1.7 billion during the first half of 2026.
In 2025, Indonesia exported approximately US$31 billion worth of goods to the United States, accounting for around 11 percent of the country's total exports, while total bilateral trade between the two nations reached approximately US$43.8 billion.
Indonesia's primary exports include electronics, textiles, footwear, palm oil, furniture, and seafood products. Meanwhile, imports from the United States consist mainly of soybeans, cotton, wheat, aircraft, industrial machinery, healthcare products, chemicals, and information and telecommunications technology.
Despite the solid foundation of bilateral economic relations, Indroyono emphasized that considerable growth opportunities remain. Unlocking this potential will require stronger intellectual property protection, more consistent regulations, improved logistics efficiency, and continued investment in human capital.
He concluded that Indonesia's goal is not merely to attract foreign capital, but to establish itself as a destination where technology, skilled talent, advanced industries, and global supply chains can grow together.
Conclusion
Indonesia is strengthening its economic partnership with the United States by pursuing broader cooperation in strategic industries, with artificial intelligence emerging as a key area of focus. Beyond increasing trade and investment, both countries aim to foster technology transfer, talent development, and industrial innovation that support long-term economic growth. With strong bilateral trade and growing U.S. investment, Indonesia is positioning itself as a competitive destination for advanced technologies, global supply chains, and AI-driven development.
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