By Gabriel Ameh
Business deals and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth about $10 million have reportedly been secured ahead of the official opening of Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2026, as Indonesia strengthens trade and investment relations with West African countries.
The Ambassador of Indonesia to Nigeria, Bambang Suharto, disclosed this on Tuesday, October 14, during a welcoming reception for West African delegations in BSD City, Tangerang, Indonesia.
Addressing the participants, Suharto described Indonesia as a welcoming destination for West African businesses and said the relationship between both regions was built on trust, personal connections and shared economic interests.
He said trade engagements over the past year had helped deepen bilateral relations and create opportunities for businesses in Indonesia and West Africa.
According to the ambassador, 109 West African participants attended TEI 2025 through arrangements facilitated by the Indonesian Embassy, generating business potential estimated at more than $24 million.
For the 2026 edition, he said 101 participants had arrived and that reports of MoUs worth $10 million being signed before the exhibition opened offered encouraging prospects for further business partnerships.
Suharto urged the delegates to use the exhibition to meet manufacturers, explore products, exchange ideas and establish partnerships capable of supporting long-term commercial growth.
He also assured participants that the Indonesian Embassy would assist them in making business connections and addressing challenges during their visit.
Indonesia Expo Targets More Global Business
Suharto cited figures from the previous edition of TEI, saying the 2025 exhibition attracted 8,045 international buyers and 34,550 visitors from 131 countries, with transactions reportedly reaching $22.8 billion.
He also noted that Nigeria ranked among the top five countries in buyer attendance at the previous exhibition.
The 2026 edition was officially opened by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday, with organisers targeting transactions of $17.5 billion and reporting more than 8,092 foreign buyers from 134 countries.
The exhibition provides a platform for Indonesian companies to showcase products and connect with international buyers, distributors and potential 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 seeking to strengthen its position as a gateway for Indonesian investment into Nigeria and other African markets.
Darma led a 100-member business delegation to TEI 2026, although he said about 60 delegates were already present at the time of the reception, with 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 business opportunities.
According to Darma, Kano offers investors access to a broad regional market and opportunities to serve consumers within Nigeria and neighbouring African countries.
He said KACCIMA was promoting investment in 13 priority areas, including light manufacturing, agro-processing and pharmaceuticals.
Darma added that increased local production could help meet domestic demand while creating opportunities to export goods to other markets.
He also praised a recent Indonesian trade exhibition organised in Kano by the Indonesian Embassy, saying participating Indonesian companies sold their samples and attracted buyers.
The chamber’s participation in TEI 2026, he said, forms part of wider efforts to attract foreign investment, strengthen commercial ties and expand industrial development in Kano.
The reported $10 million in early agreements and the Kano delegation’s investment drive highlight the interest in expanding trade between Indonesia and West Africa.
Source: Media briefing by the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Bambang Suharto, and KACCIMA President, Usman Darma, at the TEI 2026 welcoming reception.
