On 15 June 2026, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Jakarta for a state visit to Indonesia, accompanied by his wife Elke Büdenbender and a German business delegation representing a range of industries and institutions.
The visit placed renewed attention on the strategic partnership between Indonesia and Germany, particularly as both countries look to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, energy, industry, skills development, and regional stability. In this regard, the two leaders highlighted in their statements the importance of strengthening Indonesia-Germany relations.
President Prabowo underlined several priority areas for cooperation, including the economy, investment, energy transition, energy security, education, and employment. He also invited Germany to expand investment in Indonesia’s strategic sectors, including industrial downstreaming, electric vehicles, semiconductors, critical minerals, rare earths, and infrastructure.
Alongside the President’s official agenda, the German business delegation took part in a briefing on the Indonesian economy organized by AHK Indonesia / EKONID in coordination with Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI).
Held at Fairmont Jakarta, the session was designed to provide the delegation with a concise but substantive overview of Indonesia’s current economic landscape, investment climate, and business opportunities.
The briefing was delivered by Mr. Peter Sonnehol, Head of Political Affairs at the German Embassy in Jakarta, Dr. Monika Erath, Executive Director of EKONID, and Oliver Doehne, Director of GTAI Jakarta. In a limited timeframe, the session aimed to equip the delegation with a practical understanding of Indonesia beyond headline figures. The discussion highlighted Indonesia’s continuing economic resilience despite external pressures, while also emphasizing that current market volatility and capital outflow should not define the country’s broader long-term outlook.
A key message from the briefing was the need to move from recognizing Indonesia’s potential to realizing it through concrete business engagement. For German companies, Indonesia is often viewed through the lens of scale, resources, and demographic strength. The discussion, however, pointed to the next step: translating those fundamentals into partnerships, projects, investment, and market entry strategies that respond to real demand in Indonesia.
Following the briefing, members of the business delegation joined the official program connected to the state visit. After an official State Banquet at Istana Merdeka, the delegation continued its engagement with Indonesian stakeholders through a discussion at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, hosted by H.E. Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, and attended by representatives from Indonesia’s business community. EKONID Chairman Pak Prijono Sugiarto and Dr. Monika Erath had the opportunity to participate in both events.
The discussion touched on several areas of shared interest between Germany and Indonesia. These included the need for stronger two-way capacity building, allowing stakeholders from both countries to better understand each other’s regulatory, industrial, and business environments. Delegation members also raised questions related to rare earths, railway projects, Indonesia’s new capital city, and national security infrastructure.
For EKONID, the occasion was an opportunity to support informed business dialogue and help position Indonesia not only as a market with potential, but as a partner where German expertise, technology, and long-term cooperation can be translated into concrete outcomes.
The visit reaffirmed that economic relations remain a central pillar of the Indonesia-Germany partnership. As both countries look toward new opportunities in industry, energy, skilled labour, infrastructure, and strategic supply chains, EKONID will continues to play its role as a bridge between German business interests and Indonesia’s evolving economic priorities.
