The Vice President of Indonesia, Gibran Rakabuming, attended the Indonesia–Africa CEO Forum 2025 held at the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday (21/11/2025).

The forum took place alongside the series of G20 Summit events and served as an important moment to consolidate investment prospects, strengthen trade cooperation, and promote strategic synergy between business players from Indonesia and South Africa.

The meeting also marked the initial launch of the Indonesia–South Africa High-Level Business Council (ISA-HLBC), a mechanism designed to bring together government representatives, industry players, and investors from both nations to accelerate the implementation of priority projects and cross-sector collaborations. ISA-HLBC is set to become an annual forum alternating between Johannesburg and Jakarta.

This initiative is also a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto’s directives emphasizing the strengthening of Indonesia’s economic diplomacy, especially with countries of the Global South.

The President called for the acceleration of strategic cooperation

opportunities—such as in energy, defense, infrastructure, and industrial supply chains—through concrete partnerships between the government and the private sector as part of Indonesia’s economic acceleration strategy and its effort to expand its strategic presence in Africa.

In his remarks, Gibran expressed his appreciation to the South African government and all industry partners involved in initiating the creation of this collaboration platform. He underlined that the relationship between Indonesia and South Africa is built on a strong historical foundation dating back to the 1955 Asian-African Conference and is now entering a more tangible phase of economic cooperation.

“This meeting is a major step in strengthening economic relations and collaboration between our two nations,” Gibran stated in the official release.

The Vice President added that Indonesia’s commitment to advancing strategic cooperation—particularly in energy, defense industries, technology, and global supply chain development—has become increasingly relevant amid global economic uncertainties.

“With strong collaboration, emerging economies can help shape a future that is more equitable and inclusive,” he explained.

Gibran also highlighted the joint decision of both countries to implement a visa-free policy as a concrete measure to enhance economic, business, and people-to-people exchanges.

“With visa-free access, the mobility of business actors, investors, and citizens becomes much easier, opening new opportunities for both countries,” he said.

Closing his statement, the Vice President reiterated the Indonesian government’s readiness to support businesses from both nations in realizing new agreements resulting from this forum.

“Africa represents the future, and Indonesia is committed to building that future together with Africa,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Simphiwe Hamilton, Director General of the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition—representing the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Franklyn Mphou Tau—stated that the cooperation between Indonesia and South Africa is not merely business exchange but a long-term strategy to foster economic self-reliance for the Global South.

“This forum is more than a business gathering; it is a strong signal that Indonesia and South Africa are moving toward a strategic partnership capable of generating economic value and development for both regions,” Hamilton said.

Through this forum, Indonesia and South Africa are expected to accelerate investment realization, create new trade opportunities, and strengthen their roles as key economic drivers in the Global South.