RRI.CO.ID, Serang - Banten is taking decisive steps to capture growing foreign direct investment from Vietnam, leveraging its strategic proximity to Jakarta and robust infrastructure to secure commitments across key industrial and agricultural sectors.

The provincial administration formally welcomed investment interest from Vietnamese business delegations on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, targeting manufacturing, real estate, and dairy farming as the core pillars of a deepening bilateral economic partnership.

The collaborative momentum was established during a high-level meeting at the Banten Provincial State Building in Serang, where Governor Andra Soni hosted representatives from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (KADIN) Bilateral Committee for Vietnam and Cambodia.

Governor Andra highlighted that Banten presents an unmatched competitive edge for international investors seeking expansion into Southeast Asia's largest economy, driven by ready-to-use logistical corridors and direct access to major consumer markets.

"Our port, airport, and toll road access infrastructure are very adequate. Therefore, along with the strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and Vietnam, the Banten Provincial Administration is committed to facilitating and smoothing the entry of investors," Andra said on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The governor revealed that preliminary discussions centered on three primary sectors: high-value manufacturing, commercial real estate, and industrial dairy farming.

Andra highlighted dairy farming as a particularly high-priority venture, noting its strategic alignment with national social welfare initiatives, including the central government's flagship Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

"Especially when we look at the supply of milk needs alongside the rollout of the Free Nutritious Meal program. If Vietnamese investors invest in Banten, we can produce our own milk utilizing their capable technological standards," he explained.

To convert this early interest into concrete capital inflows, the administration is organizing dedicated, detailed business matches at the upcoming Banten Investment Forum, set to coincide with the province's anniversary celebrations in October.

"This is just the initial stage, and we continue to build communication. Following this, we will hold a dialogue because many business owners there have requested comprehensive information regarding investment potential in Banten Province," Andra added.

Reinforcing the governor's optimism, Edwin Setiawan Tjie, representing KADIN's Bilateral Committee for Vietnam and Cambodia, confirmed that Vietnamese firms view Banten as an ideal base for regional production and distribution.

"The market base is also considered very broad. Given that Indonesia's market is the largest in the Southeast Asian region, that is what makes Vietnamese investors very interested and requesting information as detailed as possible regarding Banten," Edwin said. ***