By Narratives hub
Nigeria and Indonesia have renewed efforts to strengthen trade, investment and industrial cooperation, with business leaders and government representatives from both countries identifying opportunities for partnerships across energy, agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure and other sectors.
The commitment was made at the fifth Nigerian–Indonesian Investment and Trade Forum (NIITF 2026), organised by the Nigerian–Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI), on October 20 at Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, Indonesia.
The forum, held under the theme, “Building Continents, Building Prosperity: Solidifying Nigerian–Indonesian Economic Partnership for Strategic Alliances and Shared Growth,” brought together government officials, diplomats, business leaders and investment stakeholders to explore ways of expanding economic relations between the two countries.
The event featured high-level addresses, sector presentations, a panel session on sustainable energy, cultural performances, an MoU signing ceremony, product exhibitions and business matchmaking sessions.
Proceedings began with networking and the arrival of invited guests, followed by introductions by the Masters of Ceremony, Avinash J. Dadlani, Chief Executive Officer of Pan Asia Tech, and Sunmisola Ade-Fosudo of Fosad Consulting.
In his welcome address, President of NICCI, Mr Ishmael Balogun, reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations by connecting businesses, facilitating market access and promoting partnerships capable of delivering measurable commercial results.
Balogun said the relationship between Nigeria and Indonesia should extend beyond commodity trade to include investment, technology transfer, industrial development and value addition.
He identified oil and gas, renewable energy, agriculture, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and infrastructure as sectors with significant opportunities for cooperation.
He stressed the need to translate discussions and commitments into sustainable business ventures that would benefit both countries.
The keynote address was delivered by the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, who represented the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.
The address highlighted the Federal Government’s efforts to improve Nigeria’s business environment, reduce administrative bottlenecks and strengthen investor confidence to encourage enterprise growth and attract international investment.
Also speaking, the Chargé d’Affaires and Head of Mission at the Nigerian Embassy in Indonesia, Mr Thomas Nduka Eze, emphasised the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement in strengthening trade and investment relations between both countries.
Eze underscored the need for cooperation among government institutions, business chambers and private sector operators to advance their shared economic interests.
The forum also featured representation from Banyuwangi, Indonesia, with Mr Suratno, S.Pd., M.M., representing the Regent of Banyuwangi, Her Excellency Ipuk Fiestiandani, who was listed as Special Guest of Honour.
Similarly, the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Bambang Suharto, was represented by Minister Counsellor, Mr Ary Raharjo.
The participation of the diplomatic and regional representatives highlighted the importance of government-to-government and regional partnerships in facilitating business engagement between the two countries.
In the sector presentations, Chairman of Standard Group Holdings Limited, Professor Ahmed bin Salawudeen, discussed investment opportunities in real estate, insurance and related sectors, highlighting the potential for cross-border partnerships beyond conventional commodity trade.
Executive Director of Quaint Energy, Dr Mahmud Suleiman, spoke on opportunities in the energy sector, emphasising the importance of investment, technical expertise and reliable partnerships in developing energy solutions to support Nigerian businesses and industrial growth.
Representing PT Simco Tridatama, Ms Mudhia Evelyn Zuhdi presented opportunities in industrial processing and the production of higher-value oleochemical materials from used cooking oil and crude palm oil.
She explained the potential for converting the materials into products such as fatty acids and other industrial inputs, highlighting how processing and value addition could create new commercial opportunities and strengthen manufacturing supply chains.
Chair of the Bilateral Committee for Africa and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at KADIN Indonesia, Mrs Sylvie Tomasoa, highlighted the role of business organisations in facilitating market access, sharing commercial information and connecting businesses across borders.
Also speaking, Senior Executive Investment and Portfolio Manager at JTA Holdings, Mr Ali Hadji, discussed the wider investment environment, stressing the importance of trusted partnerships, effective risk management and investments capable of delivering tangible economic benefits.
Executive Director of Invest Nigeria, Seye Oyetade, addressed investment promotion and the need to communicate Nigeria’s business and commercial opportunities to international investors.
President of the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Ambassador Usman Hassan Darma, and President and Chairman of the Kano State Council of Traders and Entrepreneurs (KASCOTE), Alhaji Yaro Hassan, also contributed to discussions on trade development and opportunities for greater participation by Nigerian businesses.
A major highlight of the forum was a panel session titled, “Sustainable Energy Solutions for Nigeria,” moderated by the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Oreime Communications, Lady Rei Obaigbo.
The panel featured Dr Mahmud Suleiman of Quaint Energy; Managing Partner at KS Legal, Mr Kolade Sofola; Mr Ali Hadji of JTA Holdings; and Madam Vivi Herliani, a government procurement expert at the Regional Secretariat of South Tangerang City and a supply-chain management specialist.
The discussions examined investment, financing, technical capacity and commercial partnerships required to advance sustainable energy solutions in Nigeria.
The panellists highlighted the importance of linking investment with practical implementation and developing partnerships capable of supporting Nigeria’s long-term energy and industrial needs.
Madam Herliani also delivered a separate presentation on supply-chain considerations.
Beyond the business discussions, the forum featured an Indonesian dance performance which welcomed delegates and showcased the country’s cultural heritage.
The cultural presentation added a people-to-people dimension to the event, reinforcing the importance of cultural exchange in strengthening relations between both countries.
The programme also featured an awards presentation and the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), marking important steps towards encouraging cooperation and formalising partnerships among participating stakeholders.
Business matchmaking sessions followed, providing opportunities for business-to-business (B2B), business-to-government (B2G) and government-to-government (G2G) engagements.
The forum also had a dedicated product exhibition area in a separate room, where exhibitors displayed their products while the main proceedings continued.
The exhibitions and matchmaking sessions provided participants with opportunities to showcase their products, meet prospective partners and explore possible commercial agreements.
The round-table discussions covered agriculture and agro-allied industries, power generation, oil and gas, renewable energy, mining, manufacturing, transportation, aviation, the digital economy, infrastructure, health, cargo and logistics, and trading.
The wide range of sectors reflected the forum’s efforts to broaden Nigeria–Indonesia economic cooperation beyond traditional trade to include industrial production, services, technology and infrastructure development.
Through NIITF 2026, NICCI continued its efforts to strengthen economic relations between Nigeria and Indonesia by bringing together public and private sector stakeholders to identify investment opportunities, address trade barriers and establish practical commercial connections.
