As Guangdong companies increasingly look toward Southeast Asia, Indonesia is positioning itself not merely as a market, but as a potential base for technology, manufacturing and higher-value industrial cooperation.
Representatives from government, business and academia from Guangdong and Indonesia gathered at the 2026 "Go Guangdong, Go Global" Salon—Indonesia Session in Guangzhou on the afternoon of August 18 to discuss investment opportunities, potential risks, promising sectors and localization strategies for Guangdong enterprises.
On the sidelines of the event, South interviewed Rizaldi Indra Janu, director of the Indonesia Investment Promotion Center (IIPC) in Beijing, who highlighted several key areas for cooperation between Guangdong and Indonesia.
From Indonesia's nickel to Guangdong's battery technology
Rizaldi pointed to the complementary strengths of the two sides, particularly in the fast-growing battery and new-energy sectors.
Indonesia is rich in nickel resources, a key material used in battery production. Guangdong, meanwhile, is home to a large number of companies with advanced battery technologies and applications ranging from energy storage systems to electric cars, two-wheelers and motorcycles. "I think Indonesia can adopt the technology from China," Rizaldi said.
Rather than simply exporting products or technology, he encouraged Chinese companies to build deeper cooperation with Indonesian partners. "Chinese companies can start businesses in Indonesia, working closely with local players to produce high-value products," he said.
For Guangdong businesses, this means combining technological capabilities developed in China with Indonesia's resources, industrial base and local market to develop new parts of the value chain.
AI and data centers: an emerging opportunity
Looking ahead, Rizaldi believes artificial intelligence could become one of the most promising areas for Guangdong companies entering Indonesia.
"The development of AI nowadays is very fast," he said, noting that the growth of AI is closely connected to the expansion of data-center capacity.
As AI technologies become more sophisticated, they require larger and more powerful data infrastructure. Rizaldi believes Indonesia has considerable potential to support this growth, citing the availability of suitable locations, competitive costs, energy and electricity resources, as well as skilled labor. "I can say that our prices are more competitive in Asia," he said.
For Guangdong, where AI, digital technologies and related industries are developing rapidly, Indonesia's growing demand for digital infrastructure could offer a new direction for investment and cooperation.
Semiconductors also on the agenda
Another sector Rizaldi highlighted was semiconductors. He said Indonesia sees significant opportunities in developing the semiconductor industry and has introduced incentives to investors, including tax allowances, tax holidays and import duty exemptions.
According to Rizaldi, these policies are designed to encourage companies to invest in semiconductors and build industrial capacity in Indonesia.
For Guangdong companies already involved in electronics manufacturing and high-tech supply chains, Indonesia's policy support and expanding industrial ambitions may create new possibilities beyond traditional manufacturing investment.
"We are here to help"
For companies interested in Indonesia but still uncertain about how to enter the market, Rizaldi's message was straightforward: Ask for help.
IIPC has been present in China since 2021 and is tasked with assisting Chinese companies investing in Indonesia, he said.
The center provides information on investment regulations and policies, and helps companies identify suitable investment locations and connect with potential local partners.
"We not only provide the right information on regulations and policies, but we also help them find the right locations and the right local partners for the investment process in Indonesia," Rizaldi said.
And there is another point he wanted Guangdong businesses to know. "If you have any questions about investment, please feel free to ask me," he said. "Because we are on the government side, and it's also free of charge."
As Guangdong companies continue to explore opportunities overseas, the conversation at the salon suggested that the next phase of Guangdong-Indonesia cooperation may increasingly focus on combining Guangdong's technological and manufacturing strengths with Indonesia's resources, market potential and industrial development ambitions.
From batteries and new energy to AI infrastructure and semiconductors, new opportunities are emerging, but as Rizaldi emphasized, working with the right local partners could be just as important as choosing the right industry.
Reporter | Li Fangwang
Video & Poster | Xu Anhui
Photo | Foreign Affairs Office, the People's Government of Guangdong Province
