Categories: World

Indonesian President Joko Widodo meets Tesla CEO Elon Musk after nickel talks

Indonesian President Joko Widodo met Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Saturday (May 14) in Texas to talk about potential investments and technology, Indonesia’s government said in a statement.

The meeting between Musk and Widodo, otherwise called Jokowi, came after a round of working-level conversations on a likely investment in Indonesia’s nickel industry and supply of batteries for electric vehicles.

Agents from Tesla were in Indonesia last week for meetings in regards to a potential battery-related investment, Indonesian officials and two individuals acquainted with the discussions have said.

Tesla had no immediate comment.

Indonesia for years has been attempting to protect a deal with Tesla on battery investment and possibly for Musk’s SpaceX aerospace organization.

Jokowi traveled from Washington, where he attended a meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to meet Musk at the SpaceX launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. He welcomed the billionaire to visit Indonesia in November.

Jokowi is to host a summit of the Group of 20 big economies in Bali in November. “Hopefully in November,” the Indonesian government cited Musk as saying.

Musk said there could be space for “partnerships in many things because Indonesia has a lot of potentials”, the statement said.

Indonesia has the world’s biggest nickel reserves, and Jokowi is quick to develop a nickel-based EV industry at home – from making nickel metal to producing battery components and assembling electric vehicles. Previously, he has likewise asked Musk to consider a rocket launch site in Indonesia.

Two deals throughout the last month have given new momentum to Jokowi’s push to develop an EV-related industry when global automakers have been scrambling to get supplies of battery materials and diminish their reliance on China.

A consortium led by South Korea’s LG Energy Solution, the global No 2 creator of EV batteries, declared plans last month to invest US$9billion in Indonesia as a feature of a deal that would incorporate all that from nickel refining to producing battery cells in Indonesia.

LG’s bigger rival, China-based Contemporary Amperex Technology, a Tesla supplier, revealed a US$9billion Indonesia investment in April.

Raeesa Sayyad
Published by
Raeesa Sayyad

Recent Posts

Entrepreneur Syed Usama Bukhari, aka Syeddubai thrives on innovations and a strong self-belief

As a branding expert, PR manager, and rising name in real estate and automobile, Syeddubai… Read More

6 hours ago

Clever Fox Publishing Invites You to Discover the joy of parenting with Give Your Child Wings by Swati Gupta

Even though parenting is described as one of the most rewarding journeys, it is indeed… Read More

7 hours ago

Matthew Denegre on the Art of Deal Sourcing: Finding the Right Investment Opportunities

Successful deal sourcing is a cornerstone of investment planning, influencing everything from the quality of… Read More

11 hours ago

Gregory Thoke’s Top Ski Resorts in Fort Collins, Colorado

Fort Collins, Colorado, is a gateway to unforgettable winter experiences, offering an ideal blend of… Read More

11 hours ago

David Kircus: Building a Winning Sales Team Using a Professional Athlete Mentality

Success in sales and professional sports share striking similarities, from the mindset required to the… Read More

13 hours ago

LGCT Debuts on Gate.io: Legacy Network Scales Gamified, AI-Powered Learning Globally

As blockchain continues to shape new frontiers across industries, few sectors are as ripe for… Read More

1 day ago