Jakarta, 18 February 2025 - The Indonesia Economic Summit (IES) 2025 successfully concluded its highly anticipated business roundtable discussion, Investing in City and Mobility: Infrastructure, Sustainability, and Market Solutions, with a MoU Signing Ceremony, marking a commitment between the Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet (GASP), the Intelligent Transport Systems Association of Indonesia, and the 5P Global Movement Foundation to advance livable and sustainable cities and mobility. Held at the Shangri-La Hotel Jakarta, this side event brought together over 60 key stakeholders from government, academia, the private sector, and international organizations to chart a sustainable path for Indonesia’s urban future. With 58.6% of Indonesia’s 280 million population already residing in cities—a figure projected to rise to 220 million by 2045—the roundtable emphasized the urgent need for innovative solutions to mitigate the adverse effects of rapid urbanization. The discussion centered on transformative concepts such as 15-minute cities, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), and the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), all of which are critical to creating livable, sustainable, and economically vibrant urban spaces. The event was opened and moderated by Mr. William Sabandar, COO of the Indonesia Business Council, as he underscored the urgency of sustainable urban development as a result of rapid urbanization. He emphasized the goals of the business roundtable,, to identify key barriers hindering urban mobility improvements, seize opportunities for transformative change, establish foundational decisions for 2025, and to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders. Key Highlights from Collaborative Dialogue 1: Setting the Scene The discussions delved into the multifaceted challenges of urbanization and explored innovative solutions to create sustainable, livable cities. Main speakers include Prof. (HC) Bambang Susantono, Ph.D., Professor in Urban and Regional Planning Universitas Diponegoro; Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, CEO of VinFast Asia; Ms. Sunita Lukkhoo, Head of the European Investment Bank Group for Southeast Asia and the Pacific; and Ms. Ratna Kartadjoemena, Co-Founder of Bicara Udara, with over 30 passionate and highly credible resource persons from around the globe. Prof. (HC) Bambang Susantono, Ph.D., Professor in Urban and Regional Planning Universitas Diponegoro, emphasized the need for integrated urban planning, pointing out that job-housing mismatches and inadequate first/last-mile connectivity are major barriers to efficient mobility. He emphasized the need for adequate infrastructure, strong compliance and enforcement mechanisms, as well as comprehensive regulatory frameworks to promote sustainable growth. Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, CEO of VinFast Asia, discussed Vietnam’s electric vehicle (EV) revolution, emphasizing the need for robust charging infrastructure to alleviate range anxiety and to promote public awareness. He identified key improvements for Indonesia’s EV ecosystem: enhancing public awareness, providing support for downtime payments, and increasing government backing for corporations. Ms. Sunita Lukkhoo, Head of the European Investment Bank Group for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, highlighted Indonesia’s regulatory challenges compared to the more favorable environments in Vietnam and Cambodia, urging for a clearer regulatory framework and digital literacy to attract sustainable investments. Ms. Ratna Kartadjoemena, Co-Founder of Bicara Udara, pointed out the significant contribution of transportation to air pollution and called for an integrated transportation system and cleaner fuel standards, advocating for at least Euro 4 compliance. Key Highlights from Collaborative Dialogue 2: Transportation, Property, and Investment Sectors The event also brought together resource persons to further discuss vital issues in the transportation, property, and investment sectors in more detail. In the transportation sector, Prof. Danang Parikesit, Professor of Transportation Studies, Universitas Gajah Mada, identified two major obstacles to Indonesia’s EV adoption: limited private sector engagement and an unsupportive public policy environment. He suggested innovative financing models, such as unbundling EV batteries to reduce ownership costs, as seen in India. Mr. Purbaja Pantja, President Director of PT Illectra Motor Group (ALVA) echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for long-term infrastructure investments and partnerships to ensure a healthy EV ecosystem. The challenge, however, remains: how do we scale these solutions to ensure they are effective across Indonesia’s various regions? For the property sector, Mr. Mori Hiromitsu, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Expert highlighted the importance of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and collaboration between the public and private sectors. He cited Singapore’s successful integration of transport systems and urban development as a model for Jakarta. Mr. Hans-Ludwig Bruns, Country Director for Indonesia and ASEAN, GIZ added that urban development represents a massive investment opportunity, but it requires a conducive regulatory environment and stable financing mechanisms. In the investment sector, Mr. Odo Manuhutu, Deputy Coordinating Minister for Connectivity at the Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development, outlined the government’s ambitious target of attracting large investments through several initiatives, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). He noted TransJakarta and MRT as positive examples in Indonesia of continuous policy support despite changes in local government leadership, stressing that “the right individuals are needed to secure local government buy-in for policy continuity.” Mr. Firdaus Manti, Assistant Deputy for Industrial and Economic Infrastructure at the Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development also added several initiatives of the government to make EVs more competitively priced compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Signing The roundtable concluded with the signing of two landmark MOUs, marking a significant step forward in Indonesia’s sustainable urban development journey. The first MOU was signed between ITS Indonesia, who was represented by Mr. William Sabandar as President and the Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet (GASP) represented by Mr. Satya S. Tripathi, Secretary-General. This agreement aims to advance sustainable urban mobility through knowledge sharing, collaborative projects, and the development of innovative solutions tailored to Indonesia’s unique challenges. The second MOU was signed by the 5P Global Movement, represented by Chair William Sabandar, and Mr. Satya S. Tripathi as GASP. This partnership focuses on aligning regional efforts and promoting investments in sustainable urban development. By fostering collaboration among like-minded leaders and organizations, these MOUs seek to create a unified approach to addressing urbanization challenges and accelerating the transition to sustainable mobility. For further information please contact: Michael Delano Y.B. Tomasoa Research Associate, Indonesian Business Council WhatsApp: +1(857)366-3705 michael.tomasoa@business-council.id