Prabowo backs new France-Indonesia Business Council

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto welcomed the establishment of the France-Indonesia High-Level Business Council as a strategic step to strengthen economic and investment ties between the two countries."We want to enhance this cooperation, increase investment in both countries, as I am very pleased and welcome the establishment of the France-Indonesia High-Level Business Council,” Prabowo stated during a joint press statement with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday.

According to Prabowo, the Council will be an important platform to encourage closer collaboration between Indonesian and French businesses and open up new, mutually beneficial investment opportunities.

"I think this is very important, and we will be very pleased to welcome the participation and presence of French companies in the Indonesian economy," he said.

Prabowo stated that France is a key European leader with a strategic role in relations with Southeast Asia.

Therefore, strengthening the economic partnership between the two countries is considered to provide significant benefits for regional stability and growth.

Prabowo emphasized that relations between Indonesia and France have now entered a new phase through a comprehensive strategic partnership.

During the meeting, the two leaders also discussed several strategic agendas that are shared priorities, including defense cooperation, clean energy development, education, research, as well as the implementation of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA).

President Prabowo expressed his hope that various agreements and initiatives currently being developed will further strengthen relations between Indonesia and France and generate tangible benefits for both countries.

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According to government data, the total value of trade between Indonesia and France throughout 2024 was recorded at US$2.4 billion, with growth trends remaining positive over the past five years.

However, Indonesia's trade balance with France still showed a significant deficit of US$532 million in 2024.

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France continues to demonstrate its commitment as one of Indonesia's strategic investment partners.

Between 2021 and the first quarter of 2026, French investment in Indonesia was recorded at US$1.69 billion, with an average annual growth rate of 33.7 percent and the employment of over 37,000 local workers, according to data from the Investment and Downstreaming Ministry.