Indonesia’s vision of a strong economy and a prosperous society hinges on the growth and sustainability of its business sector.

Achieving this requires more than deregulation and legal certainty - it demands close collaboration among all stakeholders, including businesses, government, intellectuals, and the media.

This was the central theme at the launch of SUAR media at Hutan Kota by Plataran Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday (21/8/2025). Speeches were delivered by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Deputy Chair of Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives Hanif Dhakiri, and Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) 2019-2024 Suharso Monoarfa.

Also delivering remarks were Chairwoman of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Shinta Widjaja Kamdani, Vice President Director of PT Triputra Agro Persada Tbk Budiarto Abadi, and Chair of the Press Council Komaruddin Hidayat. Additionally, the Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Suryopratomo, Chair of the Association of All Indonesian Regency Governments (Apkasi) Bursah Zarnubi, senior economist Hendri Saparini, and national thought scholar Yudi Latif were present.

The event was also attended by a range of distinguished guests, including former ministers, seasoned entrepreneurs, company executives, editors-in-chief, and academics.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the business sector plays a central role in maintaining Indonesia’s economic direction amid global turbulence. He emphasized that without a strong voice from business actors, national productivity could easily be eroded by uncertainty.
“The business sector often loses its voice when the economic direction changes so quickly and becomes difficult to predict,” he said at the SUAR media launch event, Thursday (21/8/2025).

Airlangga affirmed that the direction of Indonesia’s economic development still shows optimism. He noted that economic growth of 5.12% over the past year has successfully created new jobs for around 1.4 million people.

Chairwoman of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Shinta Kamdani stated that economic growth is not only measured by numbers but also by the confidence of the business sector.

The role of the business sector in economic growth includes three aspects: as an engine of collaboration, an engine of transformation, and an engine of trust.

As an engine of collaboration, the business sector can be invited to cooperate with the government, such as in the development of national strategic projects. In its role as an engine of transformation, the business sector can diversify markets to boost exports, as many markets have yet to be explored, such as in the African continent. In addition, businesses must also innovate their export commodities, rather than relying solely on the same products.

Finally, as an engine of trust, the business sector can act as a partner to provide solutions for the government.
“The business sector is ready to advance together with the government to drive quality economic growth,” he said.

Support of Political Will and Regulation

The Ambassador of Indonesia to Singapore, Suryopratomo, emphasized the significant contribution of the business sector to a country's progress. The diplomatic post where he serves serves as a valuable example.

"From a country without resources and a per capita income of US$300 in 1965, a capable business sector turned Singapore into a nation with the highest per capita income in the world, reaching US$100,000," Suryopratomo said in his speech on Thursday (21/8/2025).

According to him, that contribution only works because of the government’s role in positioning and giving high recognition to the business sector. He illustrated that if a business association organizes an event, ministers or the prime minister almost always take the time to attend as a form of support for the business community.

“Their presence sends the message, ‘Tell us what we need to do to make you grow. The bigger your business, the bigger our revenue,’” said Tommy, Suryopratomo’s familiar nickname.

Despite this close relationship and strong support, the government sets clear rules and ensures the integrity of officials, who will only be elected if they can prove their competence. “With clear rules like these, when there is a bribery case, the government already knows whom to pursue,” he explained.

Senior economist and founder of the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia, Hendri Saparini, emphasized that politics should not be understood narrowly merely as stability that ensures businesses can operate smoothly, but rather as policies to manage society as a whole.

“Right now, what is certain is uncertainty. For example, if we talk about agriculture, as emphasized by the President, then we need to know who is producing and whether downstream processing will be carried out as in the mining sector, or do we have other policy concepts that promote inclusivity?” Hendri elaborated in his speech.

The necessity to view politics broadly is also, according to him, what will provide clear direction amid uncertainty. He gave an example: instead of being burdened by Trump’s tariff policies, Indonesian businesses can see Indonesia’s non-tariff measures as an opportunity to expand markets outside the United States.

“From there, we will be able to take a closer look at our fiscal politics—how the government spends the state budget (APBN) and, in turn, its impact on the business sector,” he added.

Collaboration of all parties

Meanwhile, Deputy Chair of Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Hanif Dhakiri, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, the DPR, the business sector, academics, and civil society to achieve better and higher-quality economic growth.

According to him, although macroeconomic data show positive developments, challenges on the ground—especially related to employment—must still be a primary concern.

“Economic growth is also measured by job creation. So, no matter what the numbers say, if people struggle to find work, it is considered not successful,” he stated.

He also highlighted that investing in Indonesia is still costly, and this needs to be improved so that investment can contribute more effectively to economic growth.

As a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), he affirmed that he will oversee and ensure that the government’s targets are met and create regulations to facilitate business activities.

“Every rupiah spent from the state budget (APBN) must truly generate productivity, create jobs, and maintain people’s purchasing power,” he concluded.

Chairperson of the Association of All Indonesian Regency Governments (APKASI), Bursah Zarnubi, explained that the role of regency governments is crucial in Indonesia’s economy. “60% of our national strength lies in the regencies,” he said, highlighting the significant contribution of local regions.

He supports the role of the media in providing information about the potential and strategies of regency governments in improving the economy for communities across Indonesia.

In addition, he emphasized the importance of strengthening human resources through quality education as the foundation for economic advancement.

“The foundation for building Indonesia starts with human resources who are physically and mentally healthy, as well as proficient in science and technology,” he explained.

Vice President Director of PT Triputra Agro Persada Group, Budiarto Abadi, emphasized the important role of the media in maintaining interaction between the public and the government. He described the media as a two-way bridge connecting public interests with policymakers. “If we put everything together, it becomes like an interactive public communication ecosystem,” he said.

According to him, the government, as the policymaker, needs to build optimism and certainty for the business sector to move forward. However, he observed that the current practice is quite the opposite.

“Businesses are often faced with fear and doubt,” he said. Meanwhile, the government, which requires public support, faces challenges in the form of miscommunication.

This situation arises because of the major changes brought by social media in the flow of information. While conventional media previously functioned as a filter, now anyone can spread information without screening through social media.

“This condition makes it easy for hoax news to spread and create negative impacts for both society and the business sector,” he added.

In this context, he sees the media as playing an increasingly strategic role. The media is considered capable of fostering healthy communication and ensuring that interactions between the public, businesses, and the government proceed positively. In this way, the media can act as a collaborator that provides solutions while also contributing to the advancement of journalism in Indonesia.

SUAR’s Chief Editor, Sutta Dharmasaputra, agreed that close collaboration among stakeholders is key to supporting businesses and the national economy. Here, SUAR carries a vision that differs from most mainstream media.

“When many voices gradually disappear, SUAR wants to be a platform for voices that need to be heard—especially from business actors, communities, and independent thinkers,” Sutta said in his speech.

Amid the overwhelming flow of information and the rising threat of global misinformation, a new media initiative has emerged to address these challenges. Named SUAR, this media outlet aims to illuminate the path for business actors through relevant, in-depth, and solution-oriented information.

“We provide practical methods, strategies, and real inspiration that can be applied by business actors at all levels, from micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to well-established companies,” said Sutta.