By Gabriel Ameh
Business agreements worth $10 million were reportedly secured before the official opening of the 41st Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2026, as Indonesia moves to deepen trade and investment ties with West African countries.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Bambang Suharto, disclosed this on Tuesday, October 14, during a welcoming reception for West African delegations in BSD City, Tangerang, Indonesia.
Suharto welcomed the delegates and described Indonesia as a home for West African businesses seeking new markets, partnerships and investment opportunities.
He said engagements across West Africa over the past year had strengthened bilateral relations and created opportunities for mutually beneficial trade.
According to the ambassador, 109 West African participants attended TEI 2025 through the facilitation of the Indonesian Embassy, generating business potential estimated at more than $24 million.
For the 2026 edition, he said 101 participants had arrived, with reports indicating that memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth $10 million had been signed before the exhibition officially opened.
Suharto described the early agreements as encouraging and urged the delegates to use the exhibition to meet manufacturers, explore new products, exchange ideas and develop lasting business partnerships.
He also assured participants of the embassy’s support in facilitating introductions, connecting businesses with potential partners and addressing challenges during their visit.
TEI 2025 Attracted Buyers from 131 Countries
Suharto cited figures from the previous edition, saying TEI 2025 attracted 8,045 international buyers and 34,550 visitors from 131 countries, with reported transactions reaching $22.8 billion.
Nigeria, he added, ranked among the top five countries in buyer attendance.
The 2026 exhibition was officially opened by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday, with organisers reporting more than 8,092 foreign buyers from 134 countries and setting a transaction target of $17.5 billion.
The annual exhibition provides a platform for Indonesian businesses to showcase their products and establish commercial relationships with international buyers and investors.
Kano Leads Push for Indonesian Investment
Meanwhile, the President of the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), Usman Darma, said Kano State was positioning itself as a strategic destination for Indonesian investment in Nigeria and the wider African market.
Darma led a 100-member business delegation to TEI 2026, although he said about 60 delegates were already in Indonesia, with the others expected to arrive later.
He said the delegation’s priority was to encourage Indonesian companies to establish industries in Nigeria, particularly in Kano, to expand local production and create new business opportunities.
According to Darma, Kano offers access to a broad regional market, a business-friendly environment and opportunities for companies seeking to serve consumers across Nigeria and neighbouring African countries.
He said KACCIMA was promoting investment in 13 priority sectors, including light manufacturing, agro-processing and pharmaceuticals.
Darma explained that local production could help meet domestic demand while creating opportunities to export finished goods to other markets.
He also praised a recent Indonesian trade exhibition organised in Kano by the Indonesian Embassy, describing it as successful. He said participating Indonesian companies sold their samples and attracted buyers.
KACCIMA’s participation in TEI 2026, he added, forms part of efforts to attract foreign investment, strengthen trade relations and support industrial development in Kano.
The reported $10 million in early agreements and Kano’s investment drive highlight efforts to expand commercial cooperation between Indonesia and West Africa.
Source: Statements by Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria Bambang Suharto and KACCIMA President Usman Darma at the TEI 2026 welcoming reception.
