“Indonesia is prepared to support collaboration with Türkiye in the battery industry — through joint research, investment, and technology transfer — to strengthen and enhance the competitiveness of regional supply chains,” Agus said in a statement here on Tuesday.
The minister made this statement during a visit to the booth of Aspilsan, a leading Turkish energy and battery technology company that also develops solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), at the Annual Teknofest Aerospace and Technology Festival held in Istanbul, Türkiye, on September 20.
The visit is significant as Indonesia continues to push the development of a battery-based EV ecosystem as part of its broader national industrial transformation agenda.
Agus emphasized the importance of cooperation in the development of EV batteries for both civilian and military applications.
Aspilsan, a Turkish company known for producing lithium-ion battery cells, is opening the door to collaboration with Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC). With an annual production capacity of 21.6 million units, Aspilsan has the potential to strengthen the EV ecosystem supply chain in Indonesia.
Indonesia’s EV population has grown rapidly—from 116,000 units in 2023 to 207,000 units in 2024. The demand for battery materials is projected to rise significantly, in line with the country’s newly launched EV battery ecosystem megaproject, inaugurated by President Prabowo, with an investment value of USD 5.9 billion (approximately IDR 96 trillion).
The Teknofest event also served as a platform to strengthen domestic research and development (R&D) innovation in the industrial sector.
“We extend our highest appreciation to the Indonesian delegates who participated in the science and technology competitions at Teknofest. This event is a golden opportunity to broaden perspectives and serves as motivation for Indonesian youth to become more engaged in R&D at home,” the minister said.
He added that Teknofest 2025 provided a valuable learning space for young Indonesian researchers. By witnessing innovations and achievements in science and technology firsthand, participants are expected to become more driven to conduct research and develop technologies that bring pride to the nation.
Minister Agus also highlighted that the core essence of Teknofest is to instill national pride among the Turkish people in their scientific and technological accomplishments — a spirit that Indonesia should also cultivate.
“If Indonesian society, especially our younger generation, takes pride in the nation’s scientific and technological achievements, we will have the motivation to continue innovating. That’s the spirit I saw at Teknofest — and it’s what we want to foster in Indonesia,” he explained.
From Türkiye’s perspective, the festival is not merely a venue for business transactions, but a platform to introduce the latest scientific and technological advancements to the public, especially youth. This approach has led to a growing sense of national pride among Turkish youth toward their country’s technological progress.
“One key lesson we can take is that Türkiye has built a culture of national pride through the advancement of science and technology. Indonesia is heading in that direction too — encouraging young people to love science and technology from an early age, so they are motivated to create innovations that benefit the nation, especially in developing the domestic manufacturing industry,” he said.
Agus also noted that Türkiye’s strategy of establishing science and technology centers in every province is worth emulating. These centers promote healthy competition among regions in developing cutting-edge technologies.
Related news: Indonesia’s EV battery plant targets local market: IBC
Translator: Ahmad, Azis Kurmala
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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