“Indonesia has a comparative advantage in green energy, which we can use to access markets anywhere—whether in Europe or America,” he said at the opening of the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit & Exhibition 2025 in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The country has abundant renewable energy potential, including wind, solar, and hydropower.
Lahadalia said Indonesia has the potential to develop up to 3,600 gigawatts (GW), or about 3.6 terawatts (TW), of hydropower.
If fully realized, this potential could create around 300,000 jobs and generate up to US$70 billion in foreign exchange, he added.
“We could create approximately 300,000 jobs and bring in foreign exchange of around US$70 billion,” he said.
His comments came in response to reciprocal tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month.
Lahadalia noted that raising trade tariffs is a common practice in international trade and should not be viewed as catastrophic.
“This is just part of a trade strategy,” he said.
He added that the tariff dispute reflects a broader trend of countries prioritizing their national interests.
What’s needed now, he said, is political and economic dialogue that benefits all countries and avoids interference.
“Countries need to respect one another,” he emphasized.
On April 2, President Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on multiple countries, including Indonesia, which now faces a 32 percent tariff.
Other ASEAN countries were also affected: the Philippines faces a 17 percent tariff, Singapore 10 percent, Malaysia 24 percent, Cambodia 49 percent, Thailand 36 percent, and Vietnam 46 percent.
However, on April 9, Trump announced a 90-day pause in implementation for most countries, excluding China. Indonesia is among the nations granted the full three-month reprieve.
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Translator: Putu Indah Savitri, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Anton Santoso
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