At a time when some international investors are pausing or reassessing their exposure to emerging markets amid global uncertainty and market volatility, Thai investors continue to recognise significant long-term opportunities in Indonesia. This confidence was reinforced by the positive tone of the speakers at the Indonesia Investment & Trade Forum 2026 held in Bangkok this month, which was hosted by Bangkok Bank and Permata Bank.
This was our second such forum and the growing attendance reflects the strong interest by Thai investors in this dynamic market. I believe there are three major reasons for this.
First, Thai investors continue to regard Indonesia's economic fundamentals as robust and among the strongest in the emerging-market landscape. Economic growth has remained consistently around 5% annually, supported by household consumption, private-sector investment, infrastructure development, and the expansion of strategic industries.
Second, Thai investors tend to place greater emphasis on long-term structural fundamentals than on short-term market fluctuations, with a focus on underlying drivers of sustainable growth, including favourable demographics, rising household incomes, and continued infrastructure development.
Third, there is an increasing recognition of the importance of regional growth and integration. Supply-chain disruptions during the pandemic, together with more recent energy shocks and geopolitical tensions, have underscored the value of resilience and diversification.
Strengthening regional value chains and deepening Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (Asean) connectivity -- particularly in areas such as energy security and food security -- will benefit all economies within the region. With Asean projected to become one of the world's largest economic blocs by 2030, Indonesia, as the region's largest economy, will play a pivotal role in shaping its future growth trajectory.
Thailand and Indonesia are natural partners. Our complementary strengths in automotive and EV manufacturing, agriculture, consumer industries, financial services, the digital economy and the green economy create genuine opportunities for deeper cross-border collaboration and investment. Indonesia's potential leadership in the global halal economy also presents opportunities for closer cooperation as Thailand continues to strengthen its own capabilities and ambitions in this area.
Bangkok Bank's acquisition of Permata Bank in 2020 -- the largest intra-Asean banking transaction at the time -- was a natural extension of our long-standing commitment to Indonesia. The transaction reflected decades of experience in the market, a deep understanding of the Indonesian economy, and our confidence in the growing connectivity between Thailand and Indonesia. It also underscored our belief that stronger economic ties between the two countries would create significant opportunities for businesses across the region.
To strengthen this important area of our business, Permata Bank's International Business Division and Advisory service ensures that investors are serviced by teams who are dedicated to supporting them on every step of their Indonesia growth journey.
Asean's future growth will be driven not only by global capital flows but also by deeper regional investment, stronger economic integration, and enhanced cross-border collaboration. In this context, Indonesia remains one of the region's most important markets for Thai investors.
While near-term conditions may evolve, the longer-term direction remains clear. Indonesia will continue to be a central driver of Asean's growth story, and Bangkok Bank and Permata Bank will continue to support our clients as they participate in that journey. The opportunity is clear. The focus now is on how Thai businesses can best participate in Indonesia's next phase of growth.
Chartsiri Sophonpanich is President of Bangkok Bank.
