RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Sri Lanka are moving to revive dormant business initiatives as both countries seek to unlock new trade and investment opportunities through stronger private-sector cooperation.

The initiative emerged during a meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, between Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Chairman Anindya Bakrie and Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN, Shashikala Premawardhana.

Anindya, widely known as Anin, said that the visit marked an opportunity to strengthen business-to-business (B2B) cooperation alongside the already strong government-to-government relationship between the two nations.

He said Indonesia and Sri Lanka share a long history of cooperation dating back to the Bandung Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement, while people-to-people ties have also developed over decades.

Despite those longstanding relations, Anin noted that bilateral trade remains relatively modest at around USD 500-600 million annually, leaving significant room for growth and a more balanced trade relationship.

"The challenge is how we can increase it while making the trade balance more balanced," Anin said on Thursday, July 23, as quoted by Antara.

Beyond trade, both sides discussed investment opportunities, with several projects in Sri Lanka seen as attractive for Indonesian businesses.

Potential cooperation includes partnerships between the two countries' chambers of commerce, the establishment of a High-Level Business Council, and direct collaboration between companies. "Kadin Indonesia is pleased to lead and facilitate these forms of cooperation," Anin added.

Ambassador Shashikala said both parties agreed to revive several previously discussed initiatives, including the formation of the Indonesia-Sri Lanka Business Council and the reactivation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Kadin Indonesia and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

The countries also plan to expand participation in trade promotion activities. Sri Lanka has invited Kadin Indonesia to take part in the Sri Lanka Expo, scheduled for January next year.

This renewed business agenda aims to translate the two countries' historic diplomatic ties into stronger commercial partnerships across trade, investment, and private-sector collaboration. ***