Hangzhou entrepreneurs establish chamber of commerce in Indonesia
Business leaders from Hangzhou, China, launched a chamber of commerce in Jakarta on November 5, 2026, to help companies from both countries find partners and enter each other's markets.
A forum for businesses in both countries
Around 300 Hangzhou entrepreneurs met with Indonesian business representatives at the inauguration, according to Kompas.com. PT Halimun Reka Mandiri initiated the Business Gathering forum at Hotel Indonesia Kempinski, where the chamber was launched.
Chairman Ye Daifeng said the Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia would support both Hangzhou companies expanding into Indonesia and Indonesian businesses exploring opportunities in China.
"The Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia has set two main roles, to serve as a common home for its members and as a bridge for cooperation between Indonesia and China," Ye said at the declaration dinner.
The Indonesia Zhejiang General Chamber of Commerce provided guidance and support for the new organization, China News Service reported via Eastmoney. The chamber aims to bring together entrepreneurs of Hangzhou origin in Indonesia, foster Zhejiang's business spirit and encourage economic ties and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Ye highlighted the capabilities of companies from Hangzhou, the capital of eastern China's Zhejiang Province, in the digital economy, smart manufacturing and creative industries. In his view, those capabilities complement the opportunities available in Indonesia's large and varied market.
Local benefits and legal obligations
At the launch, Jakarta Provincial Secretary Uus Kuswanto called for foreign investment to produce concrete benefits for regional economic growth and employment. He also expressed hope that the collaboration would help Indonesian micro, small and medium enterprises enter international industrial and trade supply chains.
Ye said Hangzhou entrepreneurs doing business in Indonesia were committed to following national regulations and maintaining good relationships with local communities. "Good opportunities can only be seized by those who are prepared, understand the rules, and consistently uphold integrity in doing business," he said.
Johanes Fanny Satria Cahya Aprianto, director of visa and travel documents at Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration, said the government was committed to making immigration services easier for investors. That assistance would be accompanied by legally required oversight, he said, while foreign workers legally employed in Indonesia would retain their rights under Indonesian regulations.
Retired Maj. Gen. Sudrajat, chairman of the Indonesia-China Economic, Social, and Cultural Cooperation Agency, described the chamber as a way to connect entrepreneurs and expand their business networks. The former Indonesian ambassador to China said business partnerships were a key part of the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership. He hoped further economic cooperation would bring lasting benefits to both sides.
Trade ties behind the launch
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) put Indonesia's non-oil and gas exports to China at $54.17 billion for January through September 2026, while imports from China totaled $76.16 billion. Nickel, vegetable oils, machinery and electronic equipment, and plastics dominate trade between the two countries.
Hangzhou's trade with BRICS countries totaled 195.88 billion yuan, or about $29.17 billion, in the first eight months of 2026, according to official figures cited at the 2026 Hangzhou Dialogue on Special Economic Zones in BRICS. That represented a 16.3% increase from a year earlier and 28.9% of the city's total trade. Indonesia became a full BRICS member in 2025.
Separate cooperation on special economic zones
A separate agreement preceded the chamber's launch. In September 2026, PT Kawasan Industri Terpadu Batang (KITB), which manages the Batang Industropolis Special Economic Zone, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Area (HEDA). The signing took place in Hangzhou during the BRICS SEZ Hangzhou Dialogue & GDTE 2026, according to Jawawa, citing MetroTVNews.
The agreement provides for operational and business support, promotion of investment and trade, policy exchanges, joint business activities and capacity building. Its areas of cooperation include the digital economy, green energy, healthcare and advanced equipment manufacturing.
As of September 2026, Indonesia had developed 25 special economic zones covering 23,797.88 hectares, according to Ali Murtopo Simbolon, secretary-general of Indonesia's national council for special economic zones. He described the zones as an important means of promoting trade, investment and industrial cooperation.
PT KITB said investment commitments in the Batang zone had reached IDR 114.5 trillion by September 2026. Its operating tenants include PT LBM Energi Baru Indonesia, which is developing lithium ferro phosphate battery materials with an investment of about IDR 1.5 trillion.