SBF Deepens Business Ties with Indonesia Through Further Engagement with KADIN and New Partnership with APINDO

The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) has deepened its institutional ties across Indonesia's business ecosystem through a series of high-level engagements in Jakarta this week. Led by SBF Chairman Mr Mark Lee, key highlights included renewed engagement with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO), and discussions with Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund - Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (Danantara) on Indonesia's investment priorities.

These engagements set the stage for how Singapore's business community will contribute to a stronger, more integrated ASEAN as Singapore prepares for its Chairmanship in 2027.

Advancing the SBF-KADIN Partnership

The visit reaffirmed the depth of the SBF-KADIN partnership. Graced by Deputy for Coordination of Economic Cooperation and Investment, Dr Edi Prio Pambudi – both sides reviewed the practical outcomes to be achieved under the three pillars of the two-year MOU signed at the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders' Retreat in July 2026:

Digital Enablement, including the rollout of SBF’s Trade AI Advisor (TAIA) Indonesia – the world’s first Generative AI-powered trade platform;
Policy Engagement – through business forums and roundtables;
Capability Building – through business matching and workshops

Beyond trade, both sides also explored opportunities to deepen cooperation and share regional approaches on sustainability and decarbonisation.

New Institutional Partnership with APINDO

SBF also signed an MOU with the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO), represented by APINDO Chairman Ms Shinta W. Kamdani, to establish a forward-looking framework for Singapore–Indonesia economic and business cooperation.

The MOU sets out three areas of collaboration:

(a) Facilitating Cross-Border Business Partnerships — through business matching and partnership initiatives between Singapore companies and APINDO member companies;

(b) Strengthening Structured Dialogue — through roundtables, forums and dialogue platforms to facilitate engagement among businesses, industry stakeholders and relevant ecosystem partners, including the exchange of perspectives and identification of shared priorities; and

(c) Advancing Talent and Workforce Collaboration — through skills development and talent exchange initiatives, including structured programmes such as Tech:X, aimed at strengthening cross-border skills development, industry exposure and business linkages between Singapore and Indonesia.

The APINDO partnership provides a broader platform for practical Singapore-Indonesia business engagement, with collaboration spanning business partnerships, structured dialogue, talent exchange and workforce development.

Engaging Indonesia's Investment Ecosystem

SBF also met Mr Dony Oskaria, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (Danantara) to understand Indonesia's investment priorities and identify opportunities for Singapore companies to contribute their capital, capabilities and technical expertise to Indonesia's growth priorities - across industrial development, infrastructure, energy transition and downstream development initiatives.

Toward Singapore's ASEAN Chairmanship 2027

The Jakarta visit takes place against the backdrop of Singapore's upcoming Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2027 - a significant moment for regional business cooperation and integration. Across the meetings, SBF and its counterparts explored how deeper business-to-business ties can strengthen intra-ASEAN trade, resilient supply chains, and access to regional markets for SMEs - all priorities that will define Singapore's ASEAN Chairmanship agenda.

Mr Mark Lee, Chairman, Singapore Business Federation said, "Singapore and Indonesia will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations next year - six decades built on trust between our governments and businesses. This visit has reaffirmed the depth and practical value of our business-to-business ties. Building on our KADIN partnership, and now our new engagement with APINDO, SBF is committed to translating high-level cooperation into real opportunities for our companies - in cross-border trade, investment and capability-building. As Singapore prepares to chair ASEAN in 2027, partnerships like these will be central to how we help businesses seize regional growth."

Ms Shinta Kamdani, Chairman, APINDO said, “The MoU is not the destination; it is the platform for what we can build together. Its real value will be measured not by the agreement itself, but by the business connections we create, the investment opportunities we unlock, the capabilities and talent we strengthen, and the stronger, more resilient business networks we build between Indonesia and Singapore. Through this partnership, we seek to turn strategic alignment into tangible business outcomes and create new pathways for companies from both countries to grow together.”

Thursday, 3 September 2026

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SBF Deepens Business Ties with Indonesia Through Further Engagement with KADIN and New Partnership with APINDO

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SBF Deepens Business Ties with Indonesia Through Further Engagement with KADIN and New Partnership with APINDO

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