Strategic Collaboration Between South China Morning Post and Kadin Indonesia
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, known as Kadin Indonesia. This partnership aims to create a platform for dialogue between business leaders from Indonesia and the Chinese mainland, including Hong Kong. The collaboration is expected to foster greater understanding and cooperation between these regions.
The SCMP, which has been covering China from Hong Kong since its first front page was published in November 1903, will leverage its editorial authority, convening power, and international readership. On the other hand, Kadin Indonesia will mobilize the nation’s business leadership and provide access to its network of enterprises. Both parties will be equal partners in advancing a range of initiatives, according to the memorandum signed on Saturday in Jakarta.
Expanding the Reach of the China Conference
The two parties are currently in active talks to curate a list of topics and speakers for the SCMP’s flagship “China Conference: Southeast Asia” to be held in Jakarta in early 2026. This will be the first time the annual event is hosted in Indonesia. Zuraidah Ibrahim, the Executive Managing Editor of the Post, highlighted the significance of this initiative.
Through this strategic collaboration with Kadin Indonesia, the SCMP aims to bring valuable insights into the dynamics between China and Indonesia to its global readers. The goal is also to forge meaningful connections with key business leaders in the region.
Catherine So, CEO of the Post, expressed her enthusiasm for fostering a trusted, mutually beneficial platform among Hong Kong, mainland Chinese, and Indonesian companies. She looks forward to bringing the Post’s flagship China Conference and other initiatives to Indonesia in the coming year.
Strengthening Ties Through Media and Business
The expansion by the Post into Southeast Asia underscores a push by Hong Kong’s sole English-language broadsheet newspaper to serve the needs of its worldwide readership at a time of closer trade and investment links between the region and the Chinese mainland. Zuraidah emphasized that the journalists have worked hard to develop the Post as a trusted voice delivering credible coverage of Southeast Asia and its ties with China.
Hong Kong, the home base of the Post, is playing an increasingly prominent role as a strategic bridge or “connector” between the region and the Chinese mainland. At the same time, it offers itself as the launching pad for Chinese companies seeking to expand to Indonesia, a market of 285 million people and Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
The Post has held several of its annual conferences in Southeast Asia, its second-largest online readership market after the US. It held a one-day event in Kuala Lumpur in February this year, returning to the Malaysian capital after a successful two-day inaugural conference in 2018 that attracted more than 1,000 corporate leaders and policymakers. The conference was held in Singapore for the first time in 2023.
Future Prospects and Regional Growth
Anindya Bakrie, chairman of Kadin Indonesia, expressed his excitement about the future of the collaboration. He mentioned the potential of the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Area and the support for China’s APEC leadership next year. He also welcomed business leaders to the China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026 in Jakarta.
Kadin Indonesia, established in 1968, is the dominant association of enterprises in the country, with a membership of more than 30,000 companies and 200 business guilds comprising privately owned enterprises, co-operatives, and government-owned enterprises.
Anindya emphasized that Asia is the world’s growth engine and that stronger ties between Indonesia-ASEAN and Hong Kong-Greater China will create new opportunities for businesses and people. Through this accord with the Post, Kadin Indonesia is proud to strengthen the investment and trade corridor between the regions, turning shared insights into shared prosperity.
Additional Articles from SCMP
- Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Green marine fuel car carrier vessel visits Hong Kong
- Man arrested at Hong Kong station after 13kg of cocaine found in suitcase
- Nets beat Suns to tie NBA China Games series, Mavericks, Rockets up next in 2026
- Mind uploading: could we live forever in a digital world?