South Korean Investment in Indonesia Grows 28% in the First Half of 2018

Bilateral relations between South Korea and Indonesia have shown growth in the last two years, in both investment and trade. This is reflected in the increase of foreign investment from South Korea to Indonesia during the first half of 2018, which rose by 27.73% to US$1.15 billion (Rp 16.8 trillion) from US$901 million in the first half of the previous year. In fact, foreign investment from the Land of Morning Calm in 2017 surged by 90% to US$2.02 billion from US$1.07 billion.

Similarly, the trade value between the two countries during the first half of this year recorded a growth of 10.12% to US$8.84 million from US$8 million in the first half of the previous year. In 2017, Indonesia's trade with South Korea increased by 19.29% to US$16.32 billion from the previous year.

Trade between Indonesia and South Korea had shown a declining trend from 2013-2016. However, in 2017 it successfully recorded an increase. Similarly, South Korean investment in Indonesia experienced a slowdown in 2014-2016, but saw a surge in 2017.