Medan – The Indonesia City Expo (ICE) Business Meeting and Matching Session 3, part of the APEKSI 2026 National Working Meeting (Rakernas XVIII) Business and Investment Forum, took place on July 2, 2026, in collaboration with APEKSI, the Medan City Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Agency (DPMPTSP), and Kinarya. Ninety-eight Heads of Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Agencies (DPMPTSP) from across Indonesia attended.
Investment & Business Development Expert, Fajar Informanto, presented a new paradigm for regional investment development and introduced the Roadmap to Investable City concept through a 90-Day Playbook, emphasizing that cities must transform into viable investment destinations, not simply actively seek investors. This transformation rests on three main pillars: occupancy, traffic, and income, aimed at optimizing regional assets, revitalizing economic activity, and sustainably increasing Regional Original Income (PAD).
ACCIÓ representative, Siang Chin Sim, introduced several flagship services of the Catalan Government, namely Catalonia Supplier Services, the Open Innovation Challenge, and the GreenTech Catalogue, as tangible instruments supporting business partnerships, innovation, and sustainable investment development. Beyond simply presenting concepts, these services offer practical solutions that connect businesses, investors, and the government with the industrial and innovation ecosystem in Catalonia. This presentation is expected to open up international collaboration opportunities for Indonesian city governments in encouraging investment, technology transfer, and innovation-based economic development.
Data utilization is a key factor in increasing regional investment competitiveness, explained Jamalinuri, Manager of Databoks by Katadata. This artificial intelligence (AI)-based platform is designed to help local governments transform data into credible, easily understood, and usable strategic information for investment promotion and decision-making. By integrating more than 100 indicators from various official sources, this dashboard allows city governments to compare performance with other regions, compile comprehensive investment profiles, generate automated analyses and recommendations, and strengthen data collaboration between local governments and stakeholders. This is expected to support the realization of more data-driven governance, increase city competitiveness, and attract investment more effectively.
The final speaker, Benedictus Oktario, VP of Commercial at IDN, discussed the use of relevant digital media as a crucial strategy for city governments in building public communication and increasing regional investment attractiveness. IDN offers a digital media ecosystem as a strategic partner for city governments to package policies, public services, and investment potential into creative content that is easily understood by the younger generation. With a monthly audience reach of tens of millions, support from digital communities, and business platforms like FORTUNE Indonesia that reach executives and investors, it provides data-driven communication solutions, narratives, and amplification that can strengthen regional image, increase public trust, and promote cities as competitive and sustainable investment destinations.
The forum also featured a business matching session between the city government and potential investors, and concluded with a joint commitment from all participants to implement the Investable City Roadmap within 90 days as a step to strengthen competitiveness, create jobs, and build an inclusive and sustainable investment ecosystem.