Lowy Institute: Majority of Indonesians Support Investment from Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Japan

A Lowy Institute survey found that Indonesian society approves of foreign investment from various countries. The highest percentage of public support for foreign investment came from Saudi Arabia, at 57% of respondents.

Other countries whose investments received Indonesian public support include Singapore and Japan, with percentages of 54% and 53% respectively. This was followed by Malaysia at 47%.

Meanwhile, the Lowy Institute noted that Indonesian public support for investment from the West and China was lower. This is reflected in only 42% of respondents supporting investment from the United States and 41% for Australia.

Furthermore, only one-third of Indonesians, or 37%, supported investment from the Netherlands.

Investment from China also received low support from Indonesian society. Only 30% of respondents supported investment from Chinese companies, banks, or investment funds into large Indonesian companies.

The survey results also showed that a majority, or 87%, of Indonesians strongly support international development assistance. When asked which country provides the most foreign aid to Indonesia currently, 24% of respondents said the United States, followed by China (16%), Saudi Arabia (12%), Japan (11%), and Australia (7%).

This survey was conducted among 3,000 respondents in Indonesia aged 17 to 65 years between November 29 and December 24, 2021. The survey used a random sample method and has a margin of error of 1.8%.