President Prabowo Subianto met with the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC), US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), and US-Indonesia Society (USINDO) in Washington DC on February 18, 2026. He highlighted Indonesia's strong economic foundation, including no history of debt defaults, and invited investments amid political and economic stability. The meeting preceded the signing of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the US.
President Prabowo Subianto delivered a roughly 45-minute speech at the Business Summit in the USCC building in Washington DC on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 local time. He emphasized that Indonesia has managed its economy prudently and has never defaulted on debt throughout its history. "We have managed our economy prudently for many years. We have never defaulted, not once in our history," Prabowo stated.
Prabowo assured that Indonesia's investment climate remains conducive, supported by economic and political stability, rule of law, and commitments to combat corruption and cartels. He cited the principle "1,000 friends are too few, one enemy too many" to foster collaboration after political competition. Additionally, he introduced 18 downstreaming projects and the Danantara Investment Management Agency as Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund.
Prabowo invited US business leaders to invest, highlighting rare earth mineral reserves and cooperation opportunities in energy and resources. "We are open, we need investment, and we want more investment," he said. He also noted that foreign investment last year reached US$53 billion, reflecting confidence in Indonesia's economy.
Kadin Indonesia Chairman Anindya Bakrie stated the meeting leverages the ART to balance US$45 billion in trade, opening opportunities for Indonesian exports in shoes, textiles, garments, and electronics, as well as US imports like cotton and wheat. The meeting was attended by ministers such as Airlangga Hartarto and Bahlil Lahadalia, along with Kadin and SOE representatives.
