President Prabowo Subianto pressed US entrepreneurs to invest heavily in Indonesia, spotlighting its rich deposits of nickel, copper, bauxite and rare earths. The pitch came at a business summit hosted by the United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., on February 18, 2026.

“We need investment and we want more investment,” Prabowo told the group, according to Antara. “We are competitive, attractive, and have abundant mineral reserves for new technologies.”

Indonesia holds top global rankings for several critical minerals essential to batteries, electronics and advanced manufacturing, officials said. Prabowo noted reports placing the country among leaders in rare earth reserves, as quoted by his media team.

He laid out plans to boost value through resource processing. The new Danantara Investment Management Agency will lead 18 downstreaming projects this year, including a $3 billion waste processing plant worth 50.4 trillion rupiah.

“We continue to move forward in industrial downstreaming, with Danantara as the main driving force,” Prabowo said. “We are moving very quickly in these sectors.”

The president stressed Indonesia’s stable business environment. Regulatory certainty, strong law enforcement and solid governance will keep investments safe, he assured the audience.

Prabowo’s remarks fit his administration’s aggressive push for foreign capital since taking office. Indonesia processed 40% of global nickel supply last year through such policies, data from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry shows. That shift cut raw exports and ramped up refined products for electric vehicles and steel.

US firms already active in Indonesia include Freeport-McMoRan in copper and gold mining at Grasberg. Tesla and other EV makers eye nickel supplies from the archipelago.

The summit drew top executives from energy, tech and manufacturing. Prabowo ended his appeal simply: “So, please come to Indonesia, thank you.”

Indonesia’s economy grew 5% in 2025, per central bank figures. Officials project 5.2% expansion this year, fueled by mining, manufacturing and infrastructure. Foreign direct investment hit $22 billion in 2025, up 15% from prior year, investment board data states.

Challenges persist. Labor unrest hit some nickel plants last year. Environmental groups criticize downstreaming for pollution in Sulawesi and Halmahera.

Prabowo dismissed such hurdles. His government vows simplified permits and tax breaks to lure capital. Danantara, launched months ago, pools sovereign funds for big-ticket ventures.

The US-Indonesia trade topped $40 billion in 2025. A new economic pact could follow talks in Washington this week, trade ministry sources said.

Prabowo’s trip marks his first major US investor outreach since November’s inauguration. He returns home Thursday after White House meetings.