ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia and Sri Lanka are moving to deepen economic cooperation by expanding trade, investment, and business partnerships, marking a new chapter in relations between Southeast Asia and South Asia.
The momentum emerged during a meeting between Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Chairman Anindya Novyan Bakrie and Sri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN Shashikala Premawardhana in Jakarta on Wednesday (July 22, 2026).
The meeting focused on strengthening business-to-business (B2B) cooperation, increasing bilateral trade opportunities, attracting investment, and building stronger institutional links between business communities in both countries.
Anindya Bakrie said Indonesia and Sri Lanka have a long-standing historical relationship that has been strengthened since the Asian-African Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement era.
“Indonesia and Sri Lanka have a friendship that has existed for a long time. The challenge now is how we can increase economic cooperation and create greater benefits for both countries,” Anindya said.
Expanding Trade and Investment Cooperation
Indonesia-Sri Lanka trade currently reaches around US$500–600 million annually. Both countries see significant potential to increase trade volume while creating a more balanced and sustainable economic relationship.
Kadin Indonesia highlighted that future cooperation should extend beyond trade into investment, industrial partnerships, tourism, logistics, and other strategic sectors.
“On the investment side, the Ambassador conveyed several projects in Sri Lanka that could attract Indonesian businesses and become the beginning of broader cooperation,” Anindya said.
Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean gives the country an important role as a connectivity hub linking South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
For Indonesia, stronger cooperation with Sri Lanka could open additional opportunities for businesses seeking access to wider regional markets while strengthening economic connectivity across Asia.
Strengthening Business Networks Between Two Asian Economies
Sri Lankan Ambassador Shashikala Premawardhana said the visit was aimed at strengthening business relations between the two countries and transforming historical ties into stronger economic collaboration.
“We want to strengthen business-to-business connections. Historically, Sri Lanka and Indonesia have had close relations since the Non-Aligned Movement and even before that through strong civilizational links,” she said.
Both sides agreed to revive several cooperation initiatives, including the establishment of the Indonesia-Sri Lanka Business Council and the reactivation of the memorandum of understanding between Kadin Indonesia and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
Sri Lanka also invited Indonesian businesses to participate in Sri Lanka Expo and other trade promotion programs, while encouraging greater investment engagement from Indonesian companies.
Toward a Stronger Asian Economic Partnership
The renewed cooperation between Indonesia and Sri Lanka reflects the growing importance of regional economic partnerships amid global supply chain shifts and increasing competition for investment.
Indonesia, as Southeast Asia’s largest economy, continues to strengthen its role in global manufacturing, downstream industries, and regional investment networks. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean provides opportunities as a gateway connecting major economic regions.
By strengthening private-sector collaboration, Indonesia and Sri Lanka aim to create a more dynamic economic partnership that supports trade growth, investment expansion, and deeper integration across Asia.
The meeting was also attended by Kadin Indonesia Deputy Chairman for Foreign Relations Bernardino M. Vega. (AT Network)
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