Fifth NIITF edition to spotlight investment, non-oil exports, technology transfer and industrial partnerships.
Nigeria and Indonesia are set to intensify efforts to expand trade and investment ties as the fifth edition of the Nigerian Indonesian Investment and Trade Forum (NIITF) takes place in Jakarta from October 20 to 21, 2026.
The two-day forum, organised by the Nigerian Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI), is expected to bring together senior government officials, investors, manufacturers, exporters, policymakers, development institutions and private-sector leaders from both countries.
The event is receiving strategic backing from the Office of the Vice President, which has directed the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to coordinate the participation of relevant ministries, departments and agencies.
Under the theme, “Building Continents, Building Prosperity: Solidifying Nigerian Indonesian Economic Partnership for Strategic Alliances and Shared Growth,” the forum is expected to move beyond high-level discussions and create practical opportunities for businesses to establish partnerships, secure investments and develop cross-border commercial relationships.
A platform for new economic opportunities
Organisers say NIITF 2026 is designed to strengthen economic relations between two of the world's major emerging markets while promoting investment, trade, technology transfer and industrial cooperation.
For Nigeria, the forum provides a platform to showcase opportunities beyond crude oil, attract Indonesian capital and expertise, and connect Nigerian businesses with potential investors, distributors and strategic partners.
Key areas expected to receive attention include agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy, mining, logistics, healthcare, technology, oil and gas, fast-moving consumer goods, infrastructure, aviation and tourism.
The economic significance of the engagement is underlined by the size of the two markets. Nigeria and Indonesia have a combined population of more than 550 million people. Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia, while Nigeria remains one of Africa's largest economies and one of the continent's most important consumer markets.
Bilateral trade between the two countries reportedly reached about $4.7 billion in 2025, highlighting the scale of commercial activity already taking place and the potential for further expansion.
The organisers said the forum is intended to help convert that potential into concrete commercial transactions and long-term partnerships at a time when businesses are increasingly looking towards South-South economic cooperation.
Jakarta, Bali and Trade Expo Indonesia
NIITF 2026 will form part of a broader three-part business and cultural programme involving the forum in Jakarta, Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2026 and a tourism programme in Bali.
TEI, Indonesia's leading international trade exhibition, recorded more than 41,000 visitors from more than 140 countries and generated trade transactions valued at over $22.8 billion in 2025, according to its organisers.
The combination of the trade exhibition, investment forum and tourism programme is expected to provide Nigerian participants with a broader opportunity to understand the Indonesian market, engage manufacturers and exporters, explore investment prospects and build commercial networks.
Five years of bilateral engagement
The 2026 edition marks another milestone for NIITF, which was launched in 2022 as a platform for closer interaction between businesses, investors, government institutions and development organisations in Nigeria and Indonesia.
Four editions have so far been held in Jakarta and Bali. The 2024 edition was organised alongside the Indonesia-Africa Forum in Bali, further exposing participants to broader opportunities for Nigeria-Indonesia and Africa-Indonesia economic cooperation.
Over the years, the forum has attracted prominent figures from government, diplomacy and the private sector.
Among those who have participated are former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Nigerian Ambassador to Indonesia Usman Ari Ogah; former Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria Usra Hendra Harahap; Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria Bambang Suharto; Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah; and Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, Director-General of PEBEC.
Business and institutional participation has also included NEXIM Bank, KADIN Indonesia, the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Justrite Superstores, Sahara Energy International, Signature Global Real Estate, the Nigeria-São Tomé & Príncipe Joint Development Authority and Quaint Energy.
The 2025 edition broadened conversations around investment, business networking and strategic partnerships, with participants also signing Memoranda of Understanding aimed at developing commercial relationships.
According to the organisers, earlier editions have facilitated business matchmaking, investment discussions, promotion of Nigerian non-oil exports and stronger collaboration between public and private-sector institutions.
The programme has also included factory visits and industrial exposure activities, alongside Government-to-Government, Government-to-Business and Business-to-Business engagements.
From dialogue to commercial deals
With the fifth edition approaching, the organisers say the emphasis is increasingly shifting from conversations about economic potential to measurable commercial outcomes.
Participants at NIITF 2026 are expected to engage through panel discussions, investment presentations, strategic roundtables, networking sessions, business matchmaking and industrial visits.
These engagements are expected to focus on sectors where the two countries can complement each other's capabilities, including agriculture, renewable energy, mining, manufacturing, infrastructure, logistics, healthcare, aviation, oil and gas, the digital economy, FMCG and tourism.
For Nigerian companies, greater engagement with Indonesia could open access to a large Asian market while providing opportunities to attract capital, technology, expertise and new distribution networks.
Indonesian companies, on the other hand, stand to gain exposure to Nigeria's large consumer base and opportunities in sectors ranging from manufacturing and agriculture to infrastructure, energy and technology.
Jobs, exports and industrial development
The organisers say the broader objective is to generate investment, create employment, support industrial development, increase exports and promote the transfer of technology and knowledge between the two economies.
For Nigeria in particular, the forum comes amid continued efforts to diversify the economy, strengthen non-oil exports and attract foreign investment into productive sectors.
The emphasis on manufacturing, agriculture, mining, renewable energy and technology also reflects the potential for bilateral cooperation to extend beyond conventional trade into industrial partnerships and value-chain development.
As NIITF enters its fifth edition, organisers are positioning the platform not simply as another business conference but as a gateway through which Nigerian and Indonesian companies can identify markets, negotiate partnerships and develop long-term investment relationships.
With activities spanning Jakarta and Bali, the 2026 programme is expected to combine business engagement with trade and cultural exposure, reinforcing the organisers' ambition to build a deeper and more commercially productive Nigeria-Indonesia economic partnership.