29 August 2023, Jakarta – KPMG Siddharta Advisory (KPMG), a leading professional services firm, announced today a significant investment of IDR 150 billion (US$9.8 million) over the next five years to drive economic growth, scale business transformation, and enable regional collaboration in Indonesia. The investment will fuel comprehensive initiatives that empower Indonesian businesses to optimise operations, embrace digitalisation, and unlock new growth opportunities. The announcement was made at the opening of KPMG's new office at Menara Astra, which also celebrated the long-standing partnership between KPMG Siddharta Advisory and KPMG in Singapore in driving regional business potential.
The decision to invest is fuelled by Indonesia's thriving market, which presents a multitude of deal opportunities from thriving multinational corporations (MNCs), the transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into larger corporates, the emergence of innovative startups, rising foreign direct investment (FDI), and strong government support.
Mr. Irwan Djaja, Chief Executive Officer of KPMG Siddharta Advisory expressed the significance of the investment, stating, "Our substantial investment of IDR 150 billion over the next five years showcases our unwavering confidence in Indonesia's economic potential and reaffirms KPMG's global standing. With this funding, we aim to create 300 new high-skilled positions in critical domains such as business transformation, security engineering, data science, sustainability, and climate change. Our goal is to expand our workforce and capabilities, equipping our clients with unparalleled expertise to confidently navigate complex business challenges. We sincerely thank our clients as well for their unwavering trust and support. Their partnership has allowed us to collaborate closely, fostering innovation and propelling all of us to new heights within the industry."
To support Indonesian businesses in their expansion, mergers, and acquisitions ventures, KPMG will provide valuable knowledge, diversification strategies, and scalable approaches driven by cost-effectiveness and innovation. Key areas of focus for KPMG's investment include cybersecurity, data solutions for business transformation and IT enablement, and regulatory technology (regtech) for compliance. Please see Annex for factsheet on KPMG Siddharta Advisory.
Mr. Ong Pang Thye, Managing Partner, KPMG in Singapore & Board Member of KPMG International, emphasised the benefits of the partnership between the two KPMG firms, stating, "The collaboration between KPMG firms in accelerating business transformation knowledge exchange, capacity building, and co-creating solutions across borders will be crucial in driving resilience in Southeast Asia. This partnership provides large foreign corporations looking to invest in sectors such as transportation, energy, or telecommunications with the opportunity to tap into KPMG's deep-rooted local market knowledge, while also benefiting from KPMG's regional and global capabilities. Both KPMG firms currently work closely together, with Singapore exporting expertise and solutions to Indonesia to help businesses gain holistic perspectives and efficiently solve complex issues."
Singapore, as the largest recipient of foreign direct investment coming into ASEAN for the past decade, has been an excellent partner for Indonesia's economic growth. In 2022, Singapore became the largest foreign direct investor in Indonesia, with investments reaching US$13.3 billion1, a notable increase of 29 percent from the previous year.
KPMG's investment in Indonesia will leverage its global network, extensive expertise, and successful business transformation case studies to empower Indonesian businesses of all sizes. By sharing best practices and providing strategic guidance, KPMG aims to enhance the competitiveness of organisations and enable them to effectively navigate the evolving business landscape.