Indonesia seeks bigger role in Asia-Pacific retail industry

Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo) highlighted that within the Asia-Pacific retail landscape, Indonesia is not just a massive consumer market but also a growth platform, a hub for business ecosystems, and a prominent regional player.

Aprindo Chairman Solihin said in Tangerang, Banten, on Sunday, the wholesale and retail trade industry accounted for 13.2 percent of Indonesia’s GDP in 2025, making it the third-largest contributor after manufacturing.

The sector recorded a year-on-year growth of 6.1 percent, outpacing the country's overall economic growth.

This strength is backed by the country’s population of more than 270 million with diverse consumer profiles, across urban and rural areas, where both modern and traditional retail play equally crucial roles in meeting people’s daily needs.

Nevertheless, Aprindo views Indonesia’s potential as extending beyond its domestic market.

“As a market, Indonesia offers a massive consumer base, expanding organized retail, and a steadily growing digital payment and omnichannel ecosystem," Solihin said in a statement.

As a platform, he added, Indonesia should seamlessly connect consumers, brands, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), supply chains, and technology.

At the same time, he noted that Indonesian retailers, as regional players, are beginning to expand their capabilities beyond the domestic market.

As an example of this expansion, he pointed to Alfamart, an Aprindo member, which has entered the Philippines. This progress demonstrates that the capabilities built by Indonesia’s retail industry have real potential to scale across the regional market.

These capabilities extend beyond store formats to include management expertise, supply chain strength, brand and product value, and skilled retail human capital.

“We are also opening up opportunities for regional retail players to enter and grow in the domestic market,” he said.

This perspective demonstrates that cross-market relationships in the Asia-Pacific do not have to end in competition. The exchange of capabilities, adaptation of business models, and cross-border partnerships can unlock shared growth opportunities.

For Aprindo, the next agenda is strengthening the ecosystem that allows these opportunities to thrive, through government-industry collaboration, predictable regulations, supply chain resilience, fair digital competition, and deeper integration of MSMEs.

"Indonesia offers more than just sales opportunities. Indonesia also provides room to build partnerships and develop retail capabilities that can contribute to the growth of the Asia-Pacific region," Solihin said.

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Translator: Achmad Irfan, Raka Adji
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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