Indonesia has promised special privileges and incentives to Nigerian investors looking to set up businesses in Southeast Asia, including potential tax benefits and preferential treatment for investment-related processes.
A senior trade analyst with Indonesia’s trade promotion authorities, Iska Huberta Sinural, disclosed this on Tuesday, while addressing journalists from Nigeria in Jakarta ahead of the 41st Trade Expo Indonesia, saying the country was seeking to deepen its commercial relationship with Nigeria through increased trade, investment and business partnerships.
Sinural said Nigerian investors could explore opportunities in Indonesia, adding that investment-related incentives could include tax benefits and other forms of preferential treatment.
“There will be special treatment actually when you have to invest here. For the investment, we will give special or privilege. The visa for investors will be a bit different.
“The tax and also other things will be incentives,” she said.
According to Sinurat, Nigeria has consistently ranked among the leading countries whose buyers and visitors participate in the annual Indonesian trade exhibition, making it an important market for the country’s exporters.
She said Nigeria ranked fourth among buyers in 2022, third in 2024 and fourth in 2025, while its position among the top five buyers had been relatively consistent over the years.
“We have data on every time you come here to do some business and we also do some trade mission to your country,” she said.
The 41st Trade Expo, 2926, will Kickstart Wednesday October 14, till 18. The Trade Expo Indonesia is intended to bring together exporters, international buyers, investors and government representatives to facilitate commercial transactions and develop partnerships across multiple sectors.
Sinural speaking further, said, Indonesia was seeking to move beyond conventional buyer-seller transactions to establish longer-term partnerships, including investments by Nigerian businesses in Indonesian manufacturing, agriculture and other sectors.
“I mean, this is bilateral. It’s not always you buying from us, you can also invest in us. We also welcome you to introduce us to your product,” she said.
She argued that Nigerian investments in Indonesia could help businesses secure more reliable access to products, reduce the difficulties associated with shipping and build closer links with Indonesian manufacturers.
“The option of shipping, is a bit hard. So why don’t you invest here? And then it will be easy for us to get the products when you invest here,” she said.
Sinurat added that Indonesia could offer competitive labour and access to agricultural resources, while investors could explore opportunities to manufacture goods for the Nigerian market.
The trade analyst also encouraged Nigerian businesses to introduce locally produced food and beverages to Indonesian consumers, suggesting that product adaptation and cultural exchange could help Nigerian brands gain acceptance.
“For us to understand ourselves better, I guess one of the key points to explore is export things from Nigeria to Indonesia like food, beverages,” she said.
She added that Nigerian businesses could introduce speciality foods, coffee and beverages while adapting flavours, packaging and product sizes to Indonesian preferences.
Sinural said Indonesia was also interested in attracting Nigerian investors into sectors beyond merchandise trade, particularly where long-term partnerships could generate economic benefits for both countries.
Sinural said the 2026 Trade Expo Indonesia had exceeded its initial exhibitor target, with about 1,600 exhibitors registered against a target of 1,500.
She said the transaction target for this year’s exhibition was $17.5bn, compared with $16bn set for the previous edition.
She explained that the objective was not limited to increasing transaction values but also to attracting buyers from a wider range of countries, strengthening business networks and encouraging investment in Indonesia.
“It’s not only to have the transaction, but also to have a relationship and we also hope, in this condition, that more investments can be made during this trade expo in Indonesia,” she said.
Sinurat said the organisers were particularly interested in expanding participation from non-traditional markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
She added that invitations had been extended to at least 30 countries as Indonesia sought to strengthen government-to-government engagement alongside business-to-business transactions.
“This year, actually, we sent an invitation to at least 30 countries. Because this year, we want to have a government G2G relationship,” she said.
The exhibition’s major sectors include food, beverages and agricultural products; manufacturing; industrial estates and services; fashion and handicrafts; and furniture and home décor.
On his part, the Export Enhancement Division representative of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muhammad Alpvy, said there was considerable untapped potential in trade and investment between Indonesia and African countries, including Nigeria.
Alpvy, said Indonesia was seeking to expand exports beyond existing product categories and strengthen cooperation in food processing, agricultural commodities, furniture, manufacturing and renewable energy.
He said Nigerian businesses could explore opportunities in Indonesia while Indonesian companies could also establish manufacturing operations in Nigeria, creating a more sustainable commercial relationship.
According to him, trade between the two countries could expand significantly if the growing number of Nigerian visitors and business delegations translated into more concrete transactions and investment agreements.
Alpvy, estimated that Nigeria’s delegation to Indonesia had grown from between 100 and 150 participants in the previous year to about 250 in 2026, representing an increase of approximately 40 per cent based on the figures he cited.
He said the larger delegation presented an opportunity to expand transactions, although the actual value would depend on the products involved, the quantities purchased and the agreements concluded.
Alpvy, said Nigeria and Indonesia could also strengthen cooperation in palm oil, rubber products, healthcare manufacturing, agricultural processing and renewable energy.
He identified shipping costs and trade barriers as factors that could limit the expansion of bilateral commerce between Nigeria and Indonesia, adding that investment and local manufacturing arrangements could help businesses overcome some of the difficulties associated with direct exports.
“I believe some of the African countries already have this kind of trade agreements with Indonesia, but still ongoing,” he said.
Encouraging Nigeria to make its trade process less cumbersome while he stressed that tariffs and shipping costs were among the areas requiring further attention.
Alpvy, also highlighted opportunities in waste management and green energy, including the conversion of agricultural and animal waste into alternatives to coal.
He said Nigerian and Indonesian businesses had previously discussed cooperation in renewable energy and the establishment of factories, but further discussions were needed to determine the appropriate investment arrangements.
“First thing first about the investment is to make the format, how we can collaborate,” he said.
Alpvy, urged Nigerian investors to consider Indonesia as a destination for long-term business partnerships, while encouraging Indonesian companies to explore opportunities in Nigeria.
He said both countries stood to benefit from cooperation that went beyond seasonal trading and focused on sustained investment, local production and technology transfer.