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Jokowi to woo Australia for investments in 3-day Sydney visit
Advancing Indonesia’s industry downstreaming was at the forefront of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s priority list on Monday, as he embarked on a three-day working visit to Australia, the world’s largest supplier for a key component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, lithium.
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo walks at Halim Perdanakusuma air base in East Jakarta on July 3, 2023 shortly before embarking to Sydney, Australia, for a three-day visit. (Presidential Secretariat's Press Bureau/Kris)
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dvancing Indonesia’s economic interests were at the forefront of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s list of priorities this week, as he embarked on a three-day working visit to Australia, the world’s largest supplier of a key component in electrical vehicle (EV) batteries, lithium.
Having recently softened his stance on Canberra’s efforts to bolster its regional security strategy, Jokowi said that solidifying the economic relationship between the two neighbors was paramount to the “strategic” relationship.
Indonesia, tied with Australia as holders of the world’s largest nickel reserves, has been adamant about developing its downstream mineral industries and eyeing investment in battery production from foreign EV carmakers, but the policy has run up against some opposition and prompted the European Union to launch World Trade Organization (WTO) action against Jakarta over its nickel ore export ban.
Jakarta’s plan, included in last month’s final draft of the 2025-2045 National Long-Term Development Plan, sought to elevate Indonesia into a high-income country by capturing the lion’s share of the EV battery value chain.
Yet lithium, a mineral scarce in Indonesia, remains a missing element in Jokowi’s grand plan, a gap he had previously attempted to fill. At last year’s Business 20 (B20) Summit in Bali, Jokowi made his first attempt to woo Prime Minister Anthony Albanese into joining forces, a pitch that may be revisited during his current trip, analysts suggested.
“This trip holds a significant strategic value for Indonesia,” he said at Halim Perdanakusuma airport in Jakarta, ahead of his flight.
With Jakarta’s top trade officials as part of his entourage, Jokowi said he would be meeting Australian Governor-General David John Hurley as well as a slew of Australian business magnates, noting that investment and trade would be among the most important topics to be discussed.
