Jakarta, September 12, 2025 — The Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, together with DEN members, held a meeting with the Indonesian Economists Alliance (AEI) on Friday (12/9).
AEI, which brings together hundreds of economists and observers across Indonesia and among the diaspora, recently issued Seven Policy Appeals to the government regarding national economic direction. The meeting served as an open dialogue platform to listen directly to the economists’ perspectives on current challenges and policy priorities.
In his remarks, Luhut emphasized that the government views economists as strategic partners in strengthening policy formulation.
“We want to listen directly, share what the government has been doing, and ensure that we remain aware of the real issues being faced. Most importantly, our discussions must be based on data. We invite AEI colleagues to work together in finding solutions,” he stated.
The discussion covered several strategic topics, including the government’s ongoing efforts to promote deregulation as a driver of job creation and economic growth, and to accelerate digital transformation through the Online Single Submission (OSS) system.
Luhut also highlighted the relocation of several garment and footwear companies as part of ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States—an initiative expected to generate more than 100,000 new jobs.
DEN further stressed the importance of improving spending quality and enhancing state revenue through digitalization, with one pilot project focusing on the digitalization of social assistance distribution. According to Luhut, this initiative will not only improve transparency but also enhance budget efficiency, ensuring that aid is more targeted and directly benefits the people.
From AEI’s side, the economists reiterated the need for policy deregulation, simplified licensing procedures, and bureaucratic streamlining, which they see as essential to creating a more conducive business and investment climate.
“We appreciate the opportunity to convey our views directly. This was a productive dialogue, and we hope our recommendations will be taken into consideration in the government’s future policymaking. We also encourage such discussions to be held regularly,” said AEI representative Jahen F. Rezki.
Concluding the meeting, Luhut invited academics and economists to take a more active role in research and analysis of strategic issues, ensuring that recommendations submitted to the President are well-grounded in data and evidence.
“Your feedback is invaluable in helping us assess whether we’re on the right track. I deeply appreciate the insights shared by all the economists present,” Luhut said.
He reaffirmed that close collaboration between the government, economists, and academia is crucial to building a resilient and equitable national economy.
“We firmly believe that this collaboration will strengthen Indonesia’s economic foundation, making it more prepared to face global challenges,” he concluded.
