Johannesburg, 21 November 2025 – Indonesia's African relations stem from South-South solidarity, rooted in the 1955 Bandung Conference's ideals of equality, mutual gain, and non-interference, which fueled Afro-Asian bonds and the Non-Aligned Movement. Modern initiatives like the Indonesia–Africa Forum (IAF) and Infrastructure Dialogue (IAID) have yielded multibillion-dollar pacts.

Trade with South Africa hit USD 1.33 billion in 2023. As the first African G20 host (1 December 2024–30 November 2025), South Africa spotlights continental priorities. The Forum capitalizes on the Jakarta South Africa–Indonesia Business Forum and President Cyril Ramaphosa's October 2025 Indonesia visit, prioritizing scaled-up economic links.

The Indonesia–Africa CEO Forum 2025, held at the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit 2025, has successfully soft-launched the Indonesia–South Africa High-Level Business Council (ISA–HLBC), creating a permanent platform for strategic economic cooperation between Indonesia, South Africa, and the broader African continent. The forum gathered senior government officials, CEOs, and industry leaders from both nations to strengthen trade, investment, and industrial partnerships.

The soft launch of ISA–HLBC aimed to affirm deeper Indonesia-Africa economic bonds. The results included the ISA–HLBC's soft launch through a Memorandum of Understanding between Kadin Indonesia, Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), and South Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) , observed by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Vice Minister of Finance of Indonesia and InvestSA's Head, setting up annual alternating meetings in Johannesburg and Jakarta for dialogue, investment, and partnerships. A roundtable showcased business activities, opportunities, and policy

suggestions to overcome hurdles and launch ventures, complemented by official discussions. An MoU between PT Dahana and Rheinmetall Denel Munition advanced TNT facility collaboration, deepening industrial tech ties. These moves transform aspirations into investments, aligned policies, and mutual gains across Africa.

The Forum was co-hosted by Kadin Indonesia and BUSA, supported by SACCI, and in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in South Africa; DTIC of South Africa; InvestSA. These collaborations delivered a program of ceremonies, dialogues, and networking to convert diplomatic intent into actionable economics.

Opening the forum, Chairman of Kadin Indonesia, Anindya Bakrie, emphasized the forum offers a unique platform to translate political goodwill into concrete economic collaboration.

“This spirit of cooperation we see today draws strength from the deep historical ties that have long guided Indonesia’s partnership with Africa”. Said Anindya.

“Today’s Indonesia–Africa CEO Forum provides a timely opportunity to translate this political momentum into concrete economic collaboration. It brings together CEOs, industry leaders, policymakers, and strategic partners from both regions to identify new areas of cooperation, unlock investment opportunities, and strengthen sectoral linkages” he added.

Vice President of Indonesia, Gibran Rakambuming Raka emphasized Indonesia’s commitment to improve investment and economic cooperation with Africa.

“Africa is the continent that will set the pace of tomorrow, Africa is the future and Indonesia wants to build that future with Africa” he added.

The Indonesia-Africa CEO forum this year was also attended by Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs of Indonesia, Airlangga Hartarto; Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arrmanatha Nasir; Vice Minister of Finance, Thomas Djiwandono; Ambassador of Indonesia to South Africa, Saud Purwanto Krisnawan; Minister of Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), Vice Minister of DTIC, Zuko Godlimpi, Vice Minister of DTIC, Alexandra

Abrahams; CEO of BUSA, Khulekani Mathe; and President of SACCI, Mtho Xulu. As well as attended by around 80 participants representing business leaders and industry captain from Indonesia and South Africa