Egypt’s GAFI launches first promotional mission to Indonesia to boost East Asian ties

Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) carried out on Monday its first promotional mission to Indonesia this week, as part of efforts to draw more foreign investment from East Asia and deepen bilateral economic ties.

GAFI CEO Hossam Heiba led the visit on behalf of the Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El-Khatib, meeting senior Indonesian officials and executives from major companies in petrochemicals, fertilisers, food processing, mining, renewable energy, transport, and automotive manufacturing.

During talks with Indonesia’s Minister of Trade Budi Santoso and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Arif Havas Oegroseno, Heiba highlighted Egypt’s competitive advantages. He invited Santoso to attend the fourth ministerial meeting of trade ministers from the Developing Eight (D-8) Organisation, scheduled to be hosted by Cairo in the first week of December 2025.

The visit marks GAFI’s first official investment promotion mission to Indonesia, reflecting Egypt’s strategy to diversify its investment partners beyond traditional markets and tap into East Asia’s fast-growing economies.

Heiba also met with Rosan Roeslani, Indonesia’s Minister of Investment and CEO of the sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia, which manages $10 billion in assets and has invested $4 billion across 14 countries. Roeslani was invited to visit Egypt to explore investment opportunities in priority sectors.

The Egyptian delegation also participated in the 40th Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI), which gathered more than 8,000 companies from 130 countries across 60 industries. Heiba said GAFI aims to attract investors in sectors aligned with Egypt’s economic priorities, ensuring mutually beneficial and sustainable partnerships.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser