A delegation of 35 French companies, led by the French Business Confederation (MEDEF International), recently convened with Indonesian Minister of Investment and Downstream Industry, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, on February 18, 2025, to explore investment opportunities across Indonesia's energy sector. This significant meeting took place against the backdrop of Indonesia’s burgeoning renewable energy potential, which stands at 3,700 gigawatts, of which only 1% has been tapped—equivalent to approximately 13.08 gigawatts.
Minister Roeslani underscored during the dialogue the promising sectors of renewable energy, infrastructure, and decarbonization. He pointed out the incredible potential for solar and geothermal energy generation, particularly around 23 gigawatts, which marks it as the largest opportunity worldwide. "The key is to meet, discuss potential, and at the same time find ways to turn those potentials to real investments. With 35 French companies present today, this is a great opportunity to strengthen our collaboration," Roeslani stated, illustrating the spirit of the meeting.
On the same theme, French Ambassador to Indonesia, ASEAN, and Timor-Leste, Fabien Penone, reaffirmed France’s dedication to enhancing its economic ties with Indonesia. His remarks highlighted existing collaborations, particularly pointing out the activities of French companies active across various sectors, including nickel mining and banking. "The strengthening of France-Indonesia relations is a priority for our government. President Emmanuel Macron and President Prabowo Subianto have discussed this multiple times, which is why today’s meeting is significant for French companies to engage directly with the Indonesian government," Penone said, emphasizing the strategic nature of this engagement.
Philippe Louis-Dreyfus, Vice Chairman of MEDEF International and Chairman of the France-Indonesia Business Council, echoed the importance of this partnership, stressing their focus on infrastructure, energy, and decarbonization—areas aligning perfectly with Indonesia's development goals as outlined by President Prabowo. "Our primary focus is on infrastructure, energy, and decarbonization, which align with the goals of the Indonesian government. I am optimistic this visit will lead to beneficial partnerships for both nations," he remarked pleased with the discussions.
France has positioned itself as a strategic investment partner for Indonesia, showing confidence with US$1.05 billion invested between 2020 and 2024. Ranking as the fourth significant source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Europe, French contributions to Indonesia span housing, industrial estates, machinery, electronics, and hospitality sectors. This recent visit appears to be another reaffirmation of France’s commitment to establishing long-term, sustainable partnerships with Indonesia, especially within the energy sphere.
Meanwhile, across the English Channel, British energy regulator Ofgem has taken strategic steps to unify its electrical supply capabilities with France. On February 18, 2025, Ofgem announced its agreement with the French regulator, CRE, to investigate new opportunities for electricity interconnections, which would potentially increase capacity by approximately 1 gigawatt. This movement reflects growing collaboration on energy matters, underscoring the European Union's broader goals of enhanced energy integration.
This joint initiative between Ofgem and CRE reveals the commitment to not only address energy sustainability but also to bolster energy security amid contemporary challenges. The dialogue signifies the regulators' proactive approach to exploring methods to interconnect markets and optimize electrical supply chains between the UK and France.
Both these significant meetings and agreements highlight the global trend toward collaborative solutions for energy generation and distribution. They underline how interconnected global markets are becoming, particularly as countries balance energy demands with sustainability goals. The meetings also represent opportunities for investors, who are increasingly seeking out regions with substantial growth potential, like Indonesia’s energy sector along with cross-border electric cooperation.
The future will certainly see increased focus on international partnerships, as countries recognize the shared benefits of collaboration within the energy sector. With France leading the way in Indonesia and British regulators pushing interconnections with France, we may be on the cusp of significant advancements and mutual economic growth across borders, paving the way for innovative approaches to energy management and investment.