Strengthen Collaboration, RI'T Susun Roadmap For The Electric Vehicle Battery Industry To Defense

Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita together with Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir. Photo: Doc. Ministry of Industry

JAKARTA - Indonesia and Turkey are getting serious about strengthening partnerships in the industrial sector. The two countries agreed to develop a strategic industrial roadmap which will be a milestone for long-term collaboration, from electric vehicles to the defense industry.

The plan was delivered in a bilateral meeting between the Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita and Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir, Sunday, September 21.

"Indonesia will soon develop a roadmap for cooperation between the Indonesian-Turkey industry as a strategic guide to strengthen long-term collaboration in various sectors," Agus said in his official statement, quoted Monday, September 22.

The meeting of the two high-ranking state officials followed up on a series of Indonesia-Turkey interactions in the last two years. Agus said that a number of large Turkish companies showed a strong interest in investing in Indonesia, including Sanko Holding, Arcelik (KOC Holding) and Kordsa (Sabanci Holding).

Sanko Holding has started investment in tuna cultivation in Biak, Papua, by expanding its business to the downstream sector, including processing tuna, shipyarding and renewable energy based on hydropower.

Meanwhile, Kordsa, which has been operating in Bogor, is currently developing composite material research, airbag products to building structure boosters for export.

The Minister of Industry even encouraged Kordsa to apply for fiscal incentives in the form of super tax deductions for litbang activities.

As for Arcelik, the world's second largest producer of household appliances, has collaborated with local partners to produce washing machines in Indonesia. In the future, the company plans to expand its refrigerator and air conditioning production line, targeting Indonesia as a new production base in Asia.

"The momentum of cooperation between Indonesia and Turkey was also strengthened through the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSC) meeting in February 2025, when the President of the Republic of Indonesia and the President of Turkey signed a Joint Statement commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations," he said.

The HLSC meeting resulted in 12 memorandums of understanding between governments in various sectors, including the defense, energy, health, higher education, trade and industry industries.

Specifically for the industrial sector, the two countries formed a Joint Committee for Industrial Cooperation which includes 14 strategic sectors, ranging from battery technology, electric vehicles, textiles, to the halal industry.

In addition, there are 10 agreements between companies, such as cooperation between Pertamina Hulu Energi and TPAO in the oil and gas sector, the collaboration between PT PAL Indonesia and TAIS Shipyard for the construction of Istanbul-class frigates to joint ventures between Indonesian companies and Baykar and Roketsan for the establishment of combat drone production facilities.

In April 2025, President Prabowo Subianto made a working visit to Turkey with a focus on strategic sector investments, ranging from electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy to the defense industry. The visit resulted in a cooperation agreement for vaccine production and cooperation in the development of drones, missiles and military communications.

In terms of business, Indonesian companies such as Asia Pacific Rayon have successfully signed a multimillion-dollar viscose fiber export contract with Turkish partners.

The agreement is strengthened by the planned inaugural meeting of the Joint Committee Meeting in June 2025, which will discuss the development of human resources in industrial areas, techno park cooperation, battery production and EVs as well as investment forums.