Jakarta – In preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Meeting I 2026, scheduled to take place at the Shangri-La Hotel Jakarta on 7–9 February 2026, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia) held a media briefing titled “Road to ABAC Meeting I 2026” at the RGE Lounge on the 29th floor of the Kadin Indonesia Tower, Jakarta, on Monday (2 February 2026).

Chairman of Kadin Indonesia and Chair of ABAC Indonesia, Anindya Novyan Bakrie, emphasized the importance of APEC to Indonesia’s national economy. Anindya, commonly known as Anin, explained that nine out of Indonesia’s ten largest trading partners are APEC member economies, including the United States, China, and Russia.

“Overall, APEC economies account for around 70 percent of Indonesia’s total exports,” Anin said.

According to him, the Asia-Pacific region under APEC represents approximately 3 billion people, or about 40 percent of the world’s population, and contributes roughly 60 percent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Anin further revealed that the decision to hold ABAC Meeting I 2026 in Jakarta was a special request from China as the host economy of APEC 2026.

He noted that the first meeting is strategically important as it serves as the agenda-setting forum for the entire year of ABAC activities. Indonesia is viewed as being capable of maintaining balance while helping shape the direction of future discussions.

“This is an honor for Indonesia. At the same time, we want to leverage this first ABAC meeting to promote trade, investment, financial inclusion, regional economic integration, as well as the sustainability agenda,” Anin explained.

Anin also highlighted the theme of ABAC 2026, “Openness, Connectivity, and Synergy,” which he said reflects the growing spirit of openness and collaboration across the region.

In terms of connectivity, Anin outlined three key pillars: physical connectivity, institutional connectivity, and people-to-people connectivity.

Physical connectivity, he explained, is reflected in the strengthening of infrastructure and cross-border physical links, often associated with initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative. Meanwhile, institutional connectivity involves enhanced cooperation among countries and regions, including ASEAN, China, and other APEC economies.

“The last pillar is people-to-people connectivity, or culture. This will also be showcased in the opening dinner and gala dinner, with a strong emphasis on people-to-people interaction,” Anin said.

Meanwhile, Shinta Widjaja Kamdani, Vice Chair for Human Development, Culture, and Sustainable Development at Kadin Indonesia and a member of ABAC Indonesia, explained that ABAC operates through several working groups that address strategic issues, including Regional Economic Integration, Sustainability, Digital and Innovation, and Connectivity.

“There is also a special task force on finance and the economy, which looks at the many new financing opportunities for the energy transition, such as blended finance and other mechanisms. We are also building an ecosystem to expand access to digital finance and to promote regionally integrated digital trade finance,” said Shinta, who also serves as Chair of the Steering Committee for ABAC Meeting I 2026.

Indonesia, she added, is also promoting several legacy projects under ABAC 2026, including the establishment of a Carbon Center of Excellence to support the development of a regional carbon market ecosystem, as well as initiatives to strengthen the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem.

“The outcome of all these working groups will be policy recommendations that will be conveyed to APEC governments. The concept is that the business community jointly formulates inputs that will later be presented to the leaders,” Shinta concluded.

The ABAC 2026 series will consist of four meetings, to be held in Jakarta, Mexico City (Mexico), Pattaya (Thailand), and will conclude with ABAC Meeting IV in Shenzhen, China, as the culmination of the ABAC 2026 agenda.

Also in attendance at the event were Aziz Syamsuddin, Vice Chair for Legal Affairs, Human Rights, and Infrastructure at Kadin Indonesia and Deputy Chair of the ABAC Meeting I Organizing Committee; Kartiko Wirjoatmodjo, Vice Chair for State-Owned Enterprises at Kadin Indonesia and ABAC Indonesia member; Andi Anzhar Cakra Wijaya, Vice Chair for Multilateral Diplomacy at Kadin Indonesia and Deputy Chair of the Organizing Committee for ABAC Meeting I 2026; and Saleh Husin, Vice Chair for Industry at Kadin Indonesia.