Cornell hosts Indonesian economic leader on critical minerals and the geopolitics of technology

On November 10, Septian Hario Seto, Executive Secretary of the National Economic Council of the Republic of Indonesia, delivered a presentation at Cornell examining Indonesia's value-added strategy for critical minerals. Faculty respondents included Dr. James Patton Rogers, Executive Director of the institute.

Seto set out Indonesia's approach to shifting from raw-ore extraction to higher-value manufacturing, through export restrictions on nickel ore, domestic processing mandates, fiscal incentives, and strategic investment policies. Using nickel as the focal case, he presented evidence of rapid growth in industrial capacity, the development of integrated industrial parks at Morowali and Weda Bay, movement up the value chain from ore to ferronickel, and a measurable shift in export composition toward processed products and inputs for electric vehicles.

The talk also addressed Indonesia's strategic positioning within the geoeconomic rivalry between China and Western countries, particularly the United States. Chinese firms have played a significant role in financing and operating Indonesian nickel processing projects, accelerating both capacity growth and technology adoption. Seto described an approach that prioritises national interests while maintaining Indonesia's principle of an independent and active foreign policy, and discussed ongoing government efforts to address environmental, social, and governance concerns.

A member of Indonesia's National Economic Council, Seto has held roles across key ministries since 2015, including positions at the Executive Office of the President, the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, and the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investments. His expertise spans capital raising, debt structuring, and strategic crisis management, with contributions to major infrastructure projects including the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail, the Jabodebek LRT, and several airport and toll road developments.

The event was co-sponsored by the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, the Southeast Asia Program, and the Cornell Energy Transition Initiative.