BANDUNG, July 11 — Indonesia’s West Java has been identified as the first strategic destination for Selangor small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and government-linked companies (GLCs) seeking to expand beyond Malaysia, leveraging the province’s large market, and economic similarities with the state.
Invest Selangor Berhad chief executive officer Dato’ Hasan Azhari Idris said West Java was selected as the starting point for the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS@ASEAN) 2026, because both economies share similar strengths and are well-positioned to collaborate in unlocking wider regional opportunities.
“We believe West Java and Selangor have similar economic profiles. Selangor is the largest contributor to Malaysia’s GDP (gross domestic product).
“These strengths can be combined to collaborate and explore a bigger market,” he told Media Selangor following the conclusion of SIBS@ASEAN 2026 yesterday.
SIBS@ASEAN is held internationally for the first time, running July 9-10 at the Pullman Grand Central in Bandung, with more than 400 delegates from Malaysia and Indonesia.
Hasan added that one of the main objectives of organising SIBS@ASEAN in Bandung was to provide Selangor businesses with greater exposure to regional markets, beginning with West Java.
“Our objective is to give opportunities for our SMEs and GLCs to explore markets beyond Malaysia. As a start, we chose West Java,” he said.
For the record, Malaysia ranks as a top foreign investor in Indonesia, placing fourth globally after Singapore at the first place, followed by Hong Kong and China.
Hasan noted that West Java’s population of about 55 million presented significant business potential, exceeding Malaysia’s total population and offering a sizable consumer market for Selangor-based companies.
To facilitate market entry, this year’s programme featured exhibitions focusing on the education and medical tourism sectors, while the business forum highlighted industries including aerospace, automotive, electrical and electronics, creative technology, and machinery.
He said the second day of the programme included site visits to strategic projects involving renewable energy, aerospace, rail and mobility, as well as housing development, allowing participating companies to gain first-hand exposure to investment opportunities.
Hasan observed that establishing partnerships in West Java could also serve as a gateway for Selangor businesses to expand into the wider Indonesian market.
"We hope the companies we brought here will take this opportunity to establish a foundation in West Java. At the very least, they will have a network or connections with someone here to explore any potential opportunities further and identify partners they can collaborate with.
"Once they establish themselves in West Java, they can go beyond the Java market and explore even greater opportunities," he said.
