Jakarta Targets Rp14 Trillion Investment at International Expo, Chinese and Hong Kong Interest Surges

The Jakarta International Investment, Trade, Tourism & SMEs Expo (JITEX) 2026 has officially begun, running for four days. The event is designed not only as an exhibition and promotion but also as a forum to connect business actors with potential investors and open new business opportunities. Budihardjo Iduansjah, Chairman of the Asian Trade, Tourism and Economis Council (ATTEC) and the Indonesian Association of Retailers and Shopping Center Tenants (Hippindo), targets the JITEX 2026 series to generate transaction and investment values of around IDR 14 trillion. This figure represents an increase from the previous year's IDR 12.9 trillion. The potential investment is not limited to activities within Jakarta. Budihardjo stated that his party, along with the Ministry of MSME and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov), has held business forums and business matching sessions in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China. Through these meetings, several companies from China, Hong Kong, and even Mongolia have begun to show interest in investing in Jakarta. "That means it's potential, yes. Later, we will record it and include it in the (event) JITEX. Later, on Saturday we will report it. The potential is around Rp. 14 trillion," Budihardjo told reporters at the opening of JITEX 2026 at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, on Thursday, September 17. Investment opportunities being explored span various sectors, including food processing, industrial machinery, warehousing, industrial areas, food packaging, and water channel improvements. Some foreign investors are also reportedly planning to build production facilities in Indonesia with outputs potentially directed towards the export market. "If it is collected with the potential here in a few days, there are also many who come from abroad, who want to build a factory, want to make a factory here to be exported. That, we will calculate around Rp. 14 trillion," he said. In addition to direct investment, financing opportunities were also discussed during the business meeting series. Prospective investors are reportedly open to preparing financing instruments such as bonds to support the projects to be developed. Approximately 180 delegates participated in business matching activities in China, engaging in meetings with prospective business partners and investors. These exploratory efforts will be followed up through further discussions with the government and relevant stakeholders. Among the countries that attended and conducted exploratory visits, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore are noted as parties showing relatively high interest in following up on investment opportunities in Jakarta. Thus, JITEX 2026 is expected to move beyond business meetings during the event, leading to follow-up actions such as investments, construction of production facilities, business expansion, and trade cooperation that will have an economic impact on Jakarta.