The New Asia Forum (NAF) 2026 is targeting the mobilization of US$30 billion in investment across the New Asia region, according to an announcement issued via Media OutReach Newswire. The forum will be held on 3–4 December 2026 in Bali, Indonesia, under the patronage of President Prabowo Subianto, with Danantara Indonesia serving as a founding partner.
NAF 2026 is positioned as an action-oriented platform connecting global investors, industry leaders, and policymakers to advance investment opportunities across strategic sectors. Rather than functioning as a conventional economic dialogue, the forum is designed to translate investment interest into concrete commitments, financing structures, and measurable outcomes.
Pahala Nugraha Mansury, Managing Director of Global Relations & Communications at Danantara Indonesia, framed the initiative around Asia's capacity to absorb long-term capital amid shifting economic and geopolitical dynamics. "Our focus is on encouraging long-term capital to recognize the many investment opportunities across Asian countries, because this is precisely where the center of gravity for growth lies. This will enable growth at scale, anchored by ASEAN and driven by Indonesia as the largest country in ASEAN," he said.
The forum's premise rests on a gap between economic weight and capital allocation. The Asia-Pacific region currently accounts for nearly 60% of global economic growth, yet long-term international capital allocation to the region remains below its potential, which the organizers identify as an opening for greater investment collaboration.
Scale is a central selling point. NAF 2026 expects to convene more than 1,000 global leaders, feature over 100 speakers, and host more than 40 sessions involving sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, development finance institutions, multinational corporations, and government representatives. Notable speakers include President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia; Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group; Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Kathleen Quirk, Chief Executive Officer of Freeport-McMoRan; Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister of Italy; and Israfil Mammadov, Chief Executive Officer of the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The program follows a two-day structure. Discovery & Diligence on 3 December focuses on investment opportunities, feasibility, and transaction structures, while Action & Execution on 4 December advances capital commitments, strategic partnerships, and implementation milestones.
Eight priority sectors will anchor discussions: strategic resources and downstreaming; energy and power; advanced mobility and manufacturing; digital infrastructure and AI; food and agribusiness; trade and connectivity; tourism and creative economy; and education and human capital. As a founding partner, Danantara Indonesia will participate as a co-investor alongside global partners, supporting investment in strategic sectors and reinforcing Indonesia's role in regional economic transformation.
The significance for readers and the wider market lies in the forum's accountability mechanism. Through its transaction-focused approach, NAF 2026 aims to deliver preliminary investment agreements, bankable financing structures, and clearly defined implementation milestones, with investment commitments and progress tracked across subsequent editions to promote accountability, continuity, and tangible economic impact for Indonesia and the broader region.
