RI seeks Australian investment to drive downstreaming, green economy

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Investment and Downstreaming Todotua Pasaribu has reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Australia by boosting high-quality investments.

“The two countries are complementary economies, supported by the increasingly mature Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) framework,” Pasaribu said in a statement released Thursday.

He emphasized that the ministry aims to intensify talks with Australian business leaders to attract and secure investments that align with Jakarta's key development agendas.

“We invite Australian investors to be part of this new chapter in Indonesia’s economic growth through investments oriented toward downstreaming, infrastructure, food security, energy transition, and the green economy,” he added.

Pasaribu delivered the remarks as a keynote speaker at the Indonesia-Australia Business Summit in Sydney on Tuesday (June 30).

On the sidelines of the summit, the deputy minister held a one-on-one meeting with Stephen Wilmot, chairman of Pure Battery Technologies.

The Australian battery material processing firm plans to invest in a precursor cathode active material (pCAM) facility in Indonesia to support the Southeast Asian nation's domestic battery industry.

“Indonesia already has a high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) facility and will soon establish plants for manufacturing battery cells, which require pCAM and cathodes. Investment from Pure Battery Technologies is crucial to developing a fully integrated battery ecosystem,” Pasaribu said.

Beyond battery manufacturing, the deputy minister sought investment from BCI Minerals to support Indonesia’s efforts to downstream industrial salt, aiming to meet domestic demand while generating higher added value for the commodity.

Pasaribu also used his diplomatic visit to underscore the critical importance of enhancing regional logistical connectivity by optimizing the Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Lane (ALKI) II, a strategic maritime corridor linking the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Citing trade data, he noted that ALKI II handled an estimated AUD 138 billion in iron ore shipments, AUD 91 billion in coal cargoes, and AUD 69 billion in liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade in 2024.

“This potential presents a massive opportunity for Indonesia and Australia to strengthen supply chains, logistics, and investment across the region,” Pasaribu concluded.

Translator: Khaerul I, Tegar Nurfitra

Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono

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