Jakarta - Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia), Anindya Novyan Bakrie, has issued an important call to associations and regional chambers to formulate a national strategy in response to the potential implications of “Trump 2.0” policies and the evolving dynamics of the global trade war.

This message was delivered by Anindya—affectionately known as Anin—during the Halalbihalal gathering and networking session with associations, federations, and extraordinary members (ALB) of Kadin Indonesia at Balai Sudirman, South Jakarta, on Friday, April 25, 2025.

“Right now, we must seek national solutions amid global uncertainty. This is not just about Indonesia and the United States, or the U.S. and China—it’s about how we can emerge as winners in this trade war,” Anin emphasized.

Anin underscored the need for Indonesia to be well-prepared to seize the opportunities arising from shifts in the global trade order.

He announced that he and the Advisory Council of Kadin Indonesia will be visiting the United States to pursue three key agendas: energy transition, collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and investment promotion at the 2025 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles.

“We want to show that Kadin Indonesia is serious about doing business—but of course, we also want to profit,” Anin said firmly.

Specifically, during the upcoming meeting with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C., Anin explained that Kadin Indonesia has coordinated with the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and other relevant ministries to support a bilateral trade agreement expected to be finalized within 60 days.

According to Anin, Indonesia currently enjoys a trade surplus of USD 18 billion with the United States, while its oil and gas imports reach USD 40 billion. The government is working to rebalance trade relations through trade relocation strategies.

“We also need input from associations and regional chambers so we can identify appropriate trade partners in the U.S. Once the balance is achieved, we’ll be able to boost exports in sectors like footwear, electronics, and garments,” Anin explained.

Furthermore, Anin highlighted the growing trend of bilateral trade approaches, which he likened to “Glodok-style” negotiations—a reference to Jakarta’s traditional, direct-style market transactions—as opposed to conventional multilateral systems.

“Bilateral trade today really resembles the Glodok merchant style. There’s nothing wrong with that—it’s actually being adopted globally more than multilateral mechanisms,” Anin noted.

He also stressed the importance of regulatory adjustments in Indonesia, particularly in regard to the Domestic Component Level (TKDN) and quota policies.

“We want to avoid deindustrialization and instead promote value-added industrialization. This is what we now refer to as ‘hydridization’,” he explained.

Anin pointed out Indonesia’s significant potential in the energy transition arena, thanks to its abundant natural resources—including critical minerals and renewable energy sources such as solar, hydro, wind, and geothermal.

He also touched on the emergence of new markets, citing Turkey and the European Union.

Anin highlighted that the recent visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Indonesia paved the way for a new trade agreement that could benefit local industries, especially in exporting commodities such as coffee, foodware, and palm oil.

“I’ve also heard that President Macron of France will visit at the end of May. That’s a positive signal. But trade agreements alone are not enough if associations and regional chambers don’t take full advantage of them,” he said.

Anin emphasized the need for close collaboration between the government and the business community, and noted the opportunities created by industrial relocations from China, driven by U.S.-China trade tensions.

“Trump 1.0 favored Vietnam and Malaysia. Trump 2.0 could be our turn. If we play our cards right, we could overtake them on the curve,” Anin concluded.