Indonesia has all that it takes to move up the value chain

Econographics

August 14, 2026 • 2:57 pm ET

Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

Ahead of the 2026 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Indonesia finds itself at an important strategic moment. Few emerging economies sit at the intersection of as many global priorities: resilient growth, critical minerals, digital transformation, climate finance, and geoeconomic fragmentation. Strong macroeconomic fundamentals have helped establish the country as one of the world’s most promising emerging markets, according to the IMF.

But the question facing policymakers is no longer whether Indonesia can grow. It is whether Jakarta can translate today’s momentum into lasting productivity gains—a challenge that extends well beyond Indonesia. Many of the emerging markets and developing economies gathering in Bangkok face the same test as uncertainty over global trade, economic governance, and geopolitical leadership continues to grow.