By: Fahri Hakim )*
The government continues to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening the national economic foundation by launching the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (Danantara). This institution is tasked not only with consolidating state assets but also as a driving force in building Indonesia’s economic independence through professional, transparent, and long-term management.
The launch of Danantara was widely welcomed by various parties, particularly businesspeople and financial supervisors. As a national sovereign wealth fund, Danantara is encouraged to tap into the vast potential of the country’s underutilized assets, including attracting global investment to priority national sectors.
Joko Raharjo, Corporate Secretary of PT Pembangunan Perumahan (Persero) Tbk, stated that Danantara plays a crucial role in supporting national development, particularly through asset optimization and accelerated industrialization. He believes the synergy between state-owned construction companies and Danantara is a concrete step towards accelerating productive infrastructure development.
He explained that Danantara’s investments should be directed toward sectors that directly impact national economic independence, such as energy, food, and biofuels. With targeted financing and strong governance, Joko is confident the institution will add value to realizing an independent, resilient, and globally competitive economic system.
From a financial system oversight perspective, Dian Ediana Rae, Chief Executive of Banking Supervision at the Financial Services Authority (OJK), views Danantara as a significant step forward in managing state assets outside the state budget mechanism. She believes that Danantara’s long-term management approach, through the consolidation of state-owned enterprise assets in the form of strategic investments, is a key differentiator from conventional financial institutions.
Dian explained that in the initial phase, Danantara had pooled assets from seven major state-owned enterprises, including PLN, Pertamina, Telkom, and the Himbara banks. He added that Danantara’s asset management would remain under strict supervision, particularly in terms of risk management, financial governance, and project sustainability.
According to Dian, Danantara’s presence will also open up new financing opportunities without burdening the fiscal balance. This investment scheme is believed to be able to bridge the financing needs of large projects while simultaneously strengthening the country’s financial position in the face of increasingly complex global economic dynamics.
Support for Danantara also comes from the energy sector. Pertamina President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri stated that his company has prepared 19 strategic projects worth US$9.25 billion to collaborate on with Danantara. These projects cover both fossil fuel and renewable energy sectors, which are considered crucial to national energy security.
Simon explained that Danantara’s involvement will strengthen the financing structure for strategic projects and encourage investment collaboration with global partners. He stated that Danantara’s long-term investment approach aligns with Pertamina’s efforts to ensure the sustainability of the national energy supply and the development of strong supporting industries.
Not limited to domestic funding, Danantara has also successfully attracted the attention of international investment partners. By mid-2025, the institution had established partnerships with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Future Fund Australia, and China Investment Corporation (CIC). Total foreign investment commitments have already reached over US$7 billion, and are projected to increase by US$10 billion in the near future from several leading foreign banks.
The partnership with five major banks, including DBS, HSBC, Natixis, Standard Chartered, and United Overseas Bank (UOB), marks a significant milestone for Danantara in securing a US$10 billion jumbo credit facility. Part of this funding will be used to finance strategic projects, including the construction of PT Chandra Asri Pacific Tbk’s Chlor Alkali–Ethylene Dichloride Plant, with an investment of approximately US$800 million.
The significant commitment from international partners reflects the high level of confidence in Danantara’s asset management. In less than six months since its official launch, Danantara has demonstrated impressive performance in attracting global investors and establishing governance that adheres to global best practices.
Danantara’s role is not merely as a passive asset manager, but rather as an accelerator of national economic transformation. This institution is expected to balance domestic investment needs with potential foreign support, eliminating Indonesia’s dependence on conventional financing or foreign debt.
With its adaptive approach, focus on strategic sectors, and accountable governance, Danantara is considered a key pillar in realizing national economic independence. The synergy between the government, state-owned enterprises, and global partners through Danantara symbolizes shared trust in building a sustainable and sovereign Indonesian economic future.
Going forward, Danantara is also expected to play a strategic role in building an inclusive and progressive investment ecosystem. By strengthening its domestic and international partnership networks, Danantara can serve as a bridge between national development needs and the availability of long-term financing.
Not solely focused on financial gain, each investment is aimed at providing broad social and economic impacts for the community. Furthermore, the institution’s sustainable approach is expected to foster economic resilience that is responsive to global challenges such as the energy crisis, climate change, and geopolitical uncertainty.
)* Economic Policy Observer
