Forbes Global CEO Conference 2025: Economic Vision, Leadership Honors, and Strategic Shifts in Jakarta

Global Leaders Converge in Jakarta for Premier Business Dialogue

The 23rd Forbes Global CEO Conference brought together an elite assembly of corporate leaders, policymakers, and investors in Jakarta on October 14-15, 2025. This prestigious gathering served as a critical platform for addressing pressing global economic challenges while fostering strategic partnerships across industries and continents. With participants ranging from government leaders to pioneering entrepreneurs, the conference delivered significant insights into economic development, technological transformation, and leadership excellence.

Indonesia’s Bold Economic Vision: Targeting 8% Growth Through Social Investment

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto unveiled an ambitious economic roadmap centered on achieving 8% annual GDP growth, a target he described as “very achievable” during his conversation with Forbes Chairman Steve Forbes. The cornerstone of this strategy is a comprehensive national nutrition program allocating 335 trillion rupiah ($20 billion) to provide free meals for approximately 83 million school children and pregnant women daily.

“My first purpose is to overcome the hunger of children,” President Prabowo emphasized, highlighting both the social and economic rationale behind the initiative. He projected an impressive return of $5-7 for every dollar invested, noting the program’s dual benefit of addressing malnutrition while stimulating economic activity through job creation—potentially generating 1.5 million new positions across the archipelago., according to market developments

Excellence in Entrepreneurship: Tadashi Yanai’s Lifetime Achievement Honor

The conference celebrated visionary leadership with Japanese retail pioneer Tadashi Yanai receiving the Malcolm S. Forbes Lifetime Achievement Award. The 76-year-old founder of Fast Retailing, parent company of global apparel brand Uniqlo, was recognized for his transformative impact on the fashion industry and embodiment of entrepreneurial excellence.

“Over his remarkable career, Tadashi Yanai reshaped global apparel and redefined how clothing companies operate,” stated Steve Forbes during the award presentation. From a single menswear store in Japan, Yanai built an international retail empire renowned for its commitment to simplicity, quality, and affordability. The honoree expressed profound gratitude, noting the award represented “a great honor and pride” and symbolized “success in the global business world.”

Strategic Restructuring: Streamlining Indonesia’s State-Owned Enterprises

Investment Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani announced sweeping reforms targeting Indonesia’s state-owned enterprise sector, revealing plans to rationalize the portfolio from over 1,000 entities to approximately 200. “The goal is to improve efficiency and enhance economic growth,” Roeslani explained, underscoring the significance of SOEs that contribute up to 50% of the country’s GDP.

The restructuring initiative represents a fundamental shift toward optimizing national assets while maintaining their substantial socioeconomic impact. Complementing this effort, the government plans to leverage artificial intelligence and robotics to boost productivity, coupled with comprehensive upskilling programs for Indonesia’s youthful workforce, which boasts a median age of just 30 years., according to technology insights

Global Trade Dynamics: Navigating Uncertainty and Opportunity

The conference featured robust discussion on evolving international trade relationships, particularly in response to recent U.S. tariff policies. Steve Forbes offered critical perspective during his Fact & Comment address, characterizing tariffs as “a wedge between producers and consumers” that ultimately harm margins, productivity, and economic advancement.

While acknowledging the Trump administration’s regulatory reforms as beneficial for business, Forbes highlighted the mounting threat of global debt, which has reached an unprecedented $320 trillion. “In a low-growth environment, it is just asking for trouble,” he cautioned, emphasizing the vulnerability created by excessive borrowing during economic uncertainty.

Industry leaders provided diverse regional perspectives, with Banyan Tree Holdings Founder Ho Kwon Ping noting the contrasting but effective approaches of the U.S. and China in problem-solving, while Duke Kunshan University’s John Quelch observed China’s strategic pivot toward global rebalancing as potentially beneficial for worldwide economic stability.

Sector-Specific Insights: Real Estate, Education, and Hospitality Evolution

Conference panels delved into industry-specific challenges and opportunities, with prominent executives sharing forward-looking strategies:

• Marriott International’s Anthony Capuano emphasized maintaining human connection despite technological advancement: “As AI becomes more advanced, the unique challenge for us is to remind ourselves that we are a human connection business.”
• Northeastern University President Joseph E. Aoun highlighted the imperative for educational transformation: “What we are seeing now is the need for lifelong learning. Universities have to start thinking of providing not just education for the 18 to 22, but also lifelong learning opportunities.”
• Frasers Property CEO Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi outlined collaborative growth strategies: “As we grow in the ASEAN region, we want to grow with partnerships so that we can grow with sustainability and be resilient.”

Leadership in Adversity: Crisis Management and Innovation

Business leaders who navigated significant challenges shared hard-won wisdom about resilience and adaptation. Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes, whose AirAsia aims to restore its fleet to pre-pandemic levels by year-end, captured the essential mindset: “You either capitulate or innovate. The key word during a difficult period is resilience.”, as covered previously

Trip.com Group CEO Jane Sun revealed strategic financial discipline as crucial to weathering economic cycles: “During good times, we try to be very frugal. Then during hard times, that’s the time we can really support the customers while the others withdraw.”

The conference collectively underscored that strategic vision, adaptive leadership, and purposeful investment will define business success in an increasingly complex global landscape. For those seeking additional information about the event, the official conference website provides complete speaker details and further resources.

References & Further Reading

This article draws from multiple authoritative sources. For more information, please consult:

• https://www.forbesglobalceoconference.com/speakers-2025

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