DBS Hong Kong and edge lead dialogue on cross-border Growth at “Gateway to Indonesia” | Bahasa

Indonesia, 23 Jun 2025 - DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (“DBS Hong Kong”) in partnership with edge, a business ecosystem connecting Indonesia, Hong Kong and other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), hosted the “Gateway to Indonesia: Navigating Uncertainties to Capture Boundless Growth” conference in Hong Kong last week. This timely event aimed to bring together senior executives, investors, and professionals to examine the evolving regional economic landscape and explore how businesses can navigate uncertainty while unlocking the tremendous growth potential across Indonesia and the broader Asia region. The session was attended by April Lam, Co-Founder of edge; Boris Chan, Managing Director and Head of Institutional Banking Group, DBS Bank Hong Kong; Yul Edison, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong; Andrew You, Co-Founder of edge; Patrick Lau, Managing Director and Head of Corporate Banking, Institutional Banking Group, DBS Bank Hong Kong.

As the economic environment continues to evolve amid global trade realignments, the conference served as a strategic platform for business leaders to gain data-backed insights, share experiences and develop market entry strategies into Indonesia — one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and rapidly growing economies. DBS Bank, headquartered and listed in Singapore, possesses a strong regional network and extensive cross-border service experience, giving it a unique advantage in opening doors for businesses into Indonesia. DBS Bank also provides advisory on market entry strategies to help clients navigate the complexities of doing business in Indonesia.

Indonesia’s exports to Hong Kong have remained relatively steady over the past decade, rebounding from pandemic-era lows. Hong Kong consistently ranks among Indonesia’s top 20 trading partners. Key export products include apparel, electronics, mineral fuels, and seafood. On the investment side, Asia contributes around 75% of total foreign direct investment (FDI) into Indonesia, with Singapore (US$4.6 billion), China (US$1.8 billion), and Hong Kong leading the way. In 2024, Hong Kong emerged as the second-largest foreign investor in the country (US$2.2 billion).^[1]

Anthonius Sehonamin, Head of Institutional Banking Group Bank DBS Indonesia said, “Hong Kong continues to be one of Indonesia’s most strategic and consistent foreign investors, ranking among our top three FDI sources year after year. Its strong presence—particularly in mining and energy—has been instrumental in advancing Indonesia’s infrastructure and downstream development. As a trusted bank for cross-border expansion, we are proud to facilitate these flows of capital and expertise, strengthening economic ties and supporting Indonesia’s journey toward industrial resilience and global competitiveness.”

DBS Hong Kong offers comprehensive financing solutions to help businesses tap into the growth opportunities in Indonesia, simplifying and optimising cross-border operations. Through advanced cash management services, the bank enables companies to efficiently manage liquidity across multiple markets, ensuring seamless capital flows. The foreign exchange (FX) capabilities provide competitive rates and risk management tools to help clients mitigate currency volatility under the ever-changing economy. DBS Hong Kong also provides advisory on market entry strategies and regulatory requirements to help clients navigate the complexities of doing business in Indonesia.

Boris Chan, Managing Director and Head of Institutional Banking Group, DBS Bank Hong Kong, highlighted how DBS Hong Kong is helping clients connect across Indonesia, Hong Kong, and other GBA cities, enabling them to grow with positive impacts in new markets. “We believe Indonesia will have huge investment demands in the future. DBS Hong Kong is committed to being a trusted partner for our clients as they scale across borders. By leveraging our extensive network spanning 19 markets, DBS Bank’s Institutional Banking Group offers strategic insight, strong local partnerships and comprehensive financial solutions that help businesses manage complexity in these markets and confidently unlock new avenues of growth.”

His Excellency Yul Edison, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong, shared at the conference how Indonesia is adapting to the global trade environment, with a shift from traditional manufacturing to digital industries and e-commerce. “Despite global volatility, Indonesia’s economy is also expected to grow by around 5 percent this year, supported by resilient domestic demand and fiscal discipline. These numbers reflect Indonesia’s structural transformation in recent years. Our industrial hubs in Batang, Kendal, and Subang are attracting firms seeking to relocate from China or scale regionally, especially in the EV, electronics, and pharmaceutical sectors.”

Andrew You, Co-Founder of edge, said, “edge aims to establish a trusted business platform that fosters deep connections in the digital economy between Hong Kong and Indonesia, with a passion to continue advocating for business innovation and economic development. As the commercial hub connecting these two markets, we are delighted to partner with DBS Hong Kong to help corporates explore new frontiers of development."

As Asia enters a new chapter of economic transformation, Indonesia’s economic momentum is accelerated and driven by a young, tech-savvy population and rising consumption. DBS Bank’s Institutional Banking Group continues to serve its clients with financing, capital deployment, and risk management based in the GBA. The bank believes that Hong Kong’s mature financial infrastructure, combined with DBS Bank’s position as a connectivity hub in Asia, makes it a natural launchpad for regional expansion into Indonesia.

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About DBS

DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.

Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia“ award by Global Finance for 16 consecutive years from 2009 to 2024.

DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by supporting social enterprises: businesses with a double bottom-line of profit and social and/or environmental impact. DBS Foundation also gives back to society in various ways, including equipping communities with future-ready skills and building food resilience.

With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.