HKTDC’s work in Indonesia has gained significant traction recently, mirroring the growing strength in Hong Kong’s trade relationship with the archipelago nation. In 2024, Hong Kong’s merchandise exports to Indonesia grew 13.2% compared to 2023, while new Hong Kong investment in Indonesia surged by an impressive 26.2%, extending a multi-year trend of steadily rising investment flows.

In January 2025, the HKTDC staged its flagship Think Business, Think Hong Kong promotion in Jakarta, attracting some 2,000 participants to learn about the advantages of our city’s business and investment platform. A few months later, we led delegations of watch and clock businesses and food enterprises to the Indonesian capital where the mission members visited sales and distribution outlets, met with importers and distribution agents, and received briefings on consumer habits and market trends.

To sustain this positive momentum, in January we organised a visit to the Indonesian Consulate-General for 35 representatives from 27 member companies under our Transformation Sandbox business support programme – also known as T-box.

The delegation comprised companies from the technology, professional services, construction and building materials, health products and medicine, as well as food industries, underscoring the breadth of our city’s engagement with the Indonesian market.

During the meeting, Acting Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong Fithonatul Mar'ati introduced Indonesia's business advantages and highlighted the significant development opportunities available to Hong Kong enterprises in the world's fourth most populous nation – one of the largest and most dynamic economies in the Asia-Pacific region.

Delegates also heard from Consul for Trade Affairs Aldin Jauhari on the tariff concessions available under the Hong Kong-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. He noted  that such measures are particularly attractive for sectors such as jewellery, telecommunications, electronics and textiles.

Indonesia’s growing cohort of e-commerce giants also presents compelling opportunities to capture the rapidly expanding affluent middle class, observed Consul for Economic Affairs Bertylani Saulinggi during a lively Q&A session.

T-box members responded enthusiastically to the presentations, with many expressing greater confidence in developing business in the country.

Ricky Chan, Vice President of Architectural Intelligence, and Director of Rahmen (Asia) Limited, was interested in learning more about the capital relocation project, which has created substantial demand for construction materials and services.

“The briefing gave me a clearer understanding of the documents and contractual details that require attention when working with local partners. It has strengthened our confidence and determination to further explore the Indonesian market,” he said.

Hua Tai Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Peter Chua said the meeting had reaffirmed the company’s plans to expand into Indonesia, clarified the procedures for setting up a business, and connected the company with consulate staff for further follow up.

“HKTDC’s professional coordination and attentive support made the meeting smooth and efficient, laying a solid foundation for our future business development. This engagement has enhanced our confidence in entering the Indonesian market and provided valuable insights into the regulatory landscape and potential opportunities,“ he said.

In recent years, the HKTDC has actively showcased a wide range of opportunities for Hong Kong SMEs in Indonesia’s fast-growing economy. These efforts have included highlighting projects such as the Nusantara new capital region at the Belt and Road Summit in 2019 and bringing together Indonesian and Hong Kong real estate developers to explore Public-Private Partnership models at the Asian Financial Forum in 2023.

Indonesian speakers appear regularly at HKTDC’s anchor conferences and fairs where support services are provided including business matching and investment project pairing to facilitate deeper cooperation.

Open to all Hong Kong‑registered companies, the T-box Transformation Sandbox programme delivers free, hands‑on support to help businesses transform, compete and grow internationally. With more than 5,500 companies on board as of January 2026, T‑box has become a key platform empowering Hong Kong enterprise to strengthen their foundations, accelerate transformation and position themselves for success in fast‑growing markets worldwide.