Tokyo, 6 March 2026: The ERIA School of Government (So G) held a strategic meeting between representatives from Indonesia and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) of Japan to discuss opportunities for strengthening industrial and technological cooperation between Indonesia and Japan. The meeting brought together representatives from government, research institutions, and industry to exchange views on key sectors shaping future economic security and supply chains.

The Indonesian delegation was led by H.E. Professor Arif Satria, Chairman of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and H.E. Faisol Riza, Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Industry. The METI delegation included Mr Kazumi Nishikawa, Deputy Director-General for Economic Security Policy and Deputy Director-General for Semiconductor and Information Policy; Mr Masuo Kuremura, Special Advisor to the Minister for ASEAN and Asia-Pacific Affairs; and Ms Hata Yumiko, Director of the Asia and Pacific Division, Trade Policy Bureau.

Discussions focused on strategic areas of co-operation including semiconductors, energy transition technologies, maritime technology, critical mineral supply chains, and advanced research collaboration. Participants highlighted the importance of strengthening semiconductor ecosystems and supply chain resilience, noting potential collaboration in semiconductor materials, research partnerships, and human resource development through exchanges between Indonesian and Japanese universities and research institutions.

Energy transition was also discussed as a priority area, including potential collaboration in small modular reactor (SMR) technologies and waste-to-energy initiatives. In addition, both sides explored opportunities in maritime technology and port management systems that could support Indonesia’s maritime monitoring capacity, port productivity, and logistics efficiency as an archipelagic country.

Participants also discussed the strategic importance of critical minerals and downstream processing. Strengthening Indonesia’s role in refining and processing minerals such as nickel and copper could encourage greater participation from Japanese companies in industrial investment and technology partnerships.

Both sides emphasised that clear industrial roadmaps and concrete project proposals would be important for advancing co-operation. Identifying priority sectors and potential pilot projects could help connect Indonesian initiatives with Japanese industry, research institutions, and technology networks.

This engagement forms part of ERIA’s ongoing efforts to facilitate dialogue between government stakeholders, research institutions, and industry, and to promote practical avenues for industrial and technological co-operation between Indonesia and Japan.