Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and French President Emmanuel Macron meet at the Élysée Palace in Paris, France, on May 28, 2026. (ANTARA)
Indonesia and France have formally established a high-level business council, aimed at strengthening economic cooperation, boosting trade and facilitating investments between the two countries.
The launch was initiated by Indonesia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) in partnership with Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF) International, during the 2026 Indonesia-France Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Forum held at the Élysée in Paris on May 28. The forum convened 30 giant corporations from both countries, with total capitalisation reportedly reaching 1.3 trillion US dollars.
Notably, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron were both in attendance, underscoring the depth of commitment from each side. President Prabowo described the collaboration as “very important”, adding that “Indonesia is very pleased with the participation and presence of French companies in the Indonesian economy”.
Echoing the statement, Kadin’s Chairman Anindya Novyan Bakrie expressed appreciation for the effort, stating that “the business communities fully support this development”.
Reportedly, the council is set to mark the beginning of the implementation phase of the previously signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and investment commitments, which were ratified during President Macron’s state visit to Jakarta last year.
Minister of Investment and Downstream Industry Rosan Roeslani also welcomed the initiative, highlighting the momentum of the council establishment which has already yielded 62.5 trillion Indonesian rupiah (3.5 million US dollars). He noted that capital will be directed towards trade, energy and defence, alongside human resource development.
“The confidence of the French business community in Indonesia continues to rise. The agreements reached demonstrate that Indonesia is viewed as a strategic partner with long-term growth prospects and an increasingly competitive investment climate,” concluded Minister Rosan.
What does this mean for businesses?
The council’s establishment arrives at what President Prabowo described as the strongest period in Indonesia-France bilateral relations to date, a signal businesses on both sides should not overlook. It is also worth noting that France’s position as the second-largest economy in Europe can further amplify the strategic value of this relationship, particularly for Indonesian firms seeking a credible entry point into the European market.
The wider picture is equally significant. Both countries have committed to implementing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the European Union (EU) and Indonesia. This is a development that could serve as a template for similar arrangements with other European nations. For businesses, this represents an expanding corridor of opportunity across trade, energy and defence, underpinned by government-level backing and growing institutional infrastructure to support cross-border investment.
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