1. Manufacturing Prowess
Indonesia stands as a manufacturing powerhouse, surpassing the UK, Russia, and Mexico to rank as the 10th largest manufacturing nation globally. Key industries driving Indonesia’s manufacturing sector include food and beverage, coal and refined petroleum, chemicals, transportation, and metals and electronics. This robust sector, constituting 20% of the nation’s GDP and providing employment to approximately 25 million individuals, presents enticing prospects for your firm. Compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors, labor costs in Indonesia are relatively low; manufacturing workers earn an average monthly salary between $USD 95 and $USD 350. With cost-effective and abundant labor resources, Indonesia can help you optimize production costs for your business. Other businesses have capitalized on this opportunity; for example, nickel manufacturing attracted significant foreign investment, exceeding 155 trillion Indonesian rupiah in 2022, owing to the booming Electric Vehicle (EV) industry.
2. Regional Hotspots for Your Business
You might already recognize Indonesia’s merits as a manufacturing giant but wonder where to start. The majority of Indonesia’s manufacturing is centered around Java Island. 60% of its manufacturing activities are located in West Java province, with its top three exports being machinery, electronics, and electric equipment. The manufacturing sector in Central Java specializes in textiles and garment manufacturing; East Java focuses on leather goods and furniture, and Banten specializes in steel and chemical manufacturing. Depending on your business scope, Java Island represents a lucrative market with major land and seaports easily accessible to manufacturers, and the bulk of its industrial estates located on the island. Many manufacturing firms typically enter the Indonesian market by establishing partnerships or joint ventures with Indonesian business partners or hiring sub-contractors. These options involve the Indonesian party already having established factories with staff and equipment, reducing your overhead costs in the long run.
3. Government Incentives
In addition to Indonesia’s already established manufacturing hubs, the Indonesian government has also launched a system of designated Special Economic Zones (SEZs) intending to attract over $USD 50 billion in foreign investment over the next decade, particularly for SEZ-oriented manufacturing. These zones facilitate easier immigration processes, corporate income tax reductions, and import and excise duties exemptions, among many other benefits. For example, Indonesia recently designated Nongsa Digital Park in Batam as an SEZ. The park was opened in 2018 after bilateral discussions between Indonesia and Singapore to develop an IT and digital hub between the two countries. Due to its proximity to Singapore, 70% of Batam’s foreign investors are from Singapore, using the island as an alternative manufacturing hub to produce goods ranging from computer chips to precast concrete. Such incentives lower the barriers to entry for your business to enter and thrive in the Indonesian market.
4. Technology: A Digital Frontier
In tandem with its thriving manufacturing landscape, Indonesia’s tech sector is experiencing remarkable growth. As the largest digital economy in the ASEAN region, Indonesia is well-positioned to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Southeast Asia. Valued at $USD 12.9 billion in 2022, Indonesia’s IT market is poised for further expansion, with revenue projected to reach $USD 4.8 billion in 2023. This growth is driven by ongoing investments in 4G/5G network expansion and ICT and telecom infrastructure to accelerate the country’s digital transformation rate.
Indonesia’s strong IT outlook has also fueled its fintech industry. In 2023, Indonesia’s e-commerce sector saw transactions totaling $USD 29 billion and is home to 20% of all fintech companies in the Southeast Asian bloc. Its digital banking services saw a 13.48% increase in transaction value, while digital platform transactions surged 43.45% year-on-year. More significantly, major players like Apple are considering establishing manufacturing facilities in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Nvidia are injecting substantial investments of $USD 1.7 billion and $USD 200 million, respectively, to upskill Indonesia’s population and build Indonesia’s AI infrastructure. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted the importance of the Indonesian market, noting that over 3.1 million developers in Indonesia use Microsoft’s software development platform GitHub, making the country home to the platform’s third-largest developer community after India and China.
In contrast to other countries that mainly rely on foreign platforms and technologies, Indonesia has driven its digitalization by capitalizing on local talent to develop its platforms, such as ride-hailing apps like Gojek and e-commerce platforms like Tokopedia. Indonesia also boasts 140 million Facebook and 77 million Instagram users, revealing a tech-savvy population as the driving force behind Indonesia’s digital transformation. Consequently, many tech companies are racing to build data centers in Indonesia to understand and capture these consumer trends, representing a prime opportunity for your business to tap into.
Indonesia presents a wealth of opportunities that your firm can capitalize on in the dynamic manufacturing and technology sectors. With its favorable labor market conditions, booming IT market, and ease of doing business, Indonesia emerges as a promising destination for your business to thrive and succeed. By strategically navigating the Indonesian terrain and leveraging government incentives, you can position your company for growth in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant markets. So, are you ready to unlock growth and innovation in Indonesia? The future awaits.
