Israel-Indonesia Futures

ISRAEL-INDONESIA FUTURES PROGRAM

2027 PROGRAM:

Applications for the 2027 program will open in September 2026.

Engaging emerging & established leaders to build bridges and shape the future of
Israel-Indonesia relations. 

BACKDROP:

In September 2023, Israel and Saudi Arabia were engaged in normalization talks, following the normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan in the Abraham Accords three years earlier.

These followed Israel’s long-established diplomatic relations with the Muslim-majority nations of Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Senegal, Albania and Kosovo.

Normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia would likely have led to a normalization process – albeit a gradual one – between Israel and Indonesia.

The tragic events of October 7, 2023, initiated by Hamas, were a direct attempt to thwart these normalization talks. While these are currently on hold, signals from the Saudi government indicate a willingness to resume talks at a later date.

Meanwhile, President Prabowo’s encouraging gestures and message of ‘Shalom!’ at the United Nations General Assembly gives us hope for better days ahead.

Until then, our focus remains on fostering constructive dialogue and bridge-building between Israelis and Indonesians to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time – in food and water security, energy, healthcare, financial inclusion, education and inter-cultural understanding.

We have seen how people-to-people engagement creates meaningful and positive change.  Our cooperative activities therefore aim to expand on the groundwork being laid towards a shared future where mutual understanding and partnership-building between Israelis and Indonesians can thrive – in innovation & technology, business, education, culture or interfaith relations – for the benefit of both Israel, Indonesia and beyond.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

Israel-Indonesia Futures is a dynamic online program that brings together cross-sectoral emerging and established leaders from Israel and Indonesia to build partnerships, navigate and shape the future between these countries – despite the lack of diplomatic ties. 

Now entering its 6th year, the program takes participants on an eye-opening and transformative journey, discovering the untapped potential between Israel (the ‘Start-Up Nation’ and world’s only Jewish state) and Indonesia (tapped to become the world’s 5th largest economy by 2030 and the world’s largest Muslim-majority country).

For Indonesian participants, the program sheds light on Israeli history, politics, economy, culture, language, regional dynamics, and the country’s emergence as a global tech and innovation hub – to discover the reality beyond the headlines.

For Israeli participants, this is a unique opportunity to discover Southeast Asia’s largest economy – a market of 280 million people, to explore the history, politics, economy, challenges and successes of this Southeast Asian giant, gaining a deeper understanding of the country’s culture and complexities, and a better grasp of the trends that will lead it to become the world’s 5th largest economy by 2030.

Together, program participants will engage in meaningful dialogue with a broad professional network of people that they would rarely encounter in their daily lives, to better understand each other’s countries and cultures, to open their minds to different ideas and perspectives, to discover the tremendous untapped potential that exists between these two nations, and to work together to develop bridge-building initiatives between the two countries – while engaging in meaningful conversations, on a personal and human level that will forge peer-level friendships and high-level international partnerships for life.

Important Note on Confidentiality: 

We understand the sensitivities of the relations between Israel and Indonesia. Therefore, no names of program participants, speakers, partners or supporters are published without their express permission. More details on this can be found on our FAQs page.

TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR ALUMNI:

“This program changed the way I see Israel, it changed the way I see the future.”

R. – 2021 IIF alum – Indonesia
Health executive, Indonesian conglomerate

“An eye-opening experience and…extraordinary networking opportunity.”

Michal Shalem – 2021 IIF alum – Israel
Former chief-of-staff of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, & Co-Founder, impact.51

“Being part of the Israel-Indonesia Futures program is mind-blowing and perspective-changing for Indonesians.”

A. – 2022 IIF alum – Indonesia
Director, Indonesian financial organization

“What’s truly great about the program is the people. Their energy is very contagious.
The guest speakers are amazing and the fellow participants are equally amazing!”

A. – 2022 IIF alum – Indonesia
Director, Indonesian tech association

“Awesome, awesome, awesome program! One-of-a-kind fellowship for open-minded people only ;-)”

L. – 2025 IIF alum – Indonesia
Indonesian impact investor & business leader

“The long and steady journey for peace and prosperity for all will be built on collaboration, creation and connection of people like us. We have started walking in the right direction.”

Guy Shrayer – 2024 IIF alum, Israel
International development & emergency response consultant

“For me it was a pure masterclass in emotional intelligence and how to bring different people together.”

Arigay Bergher – 2024 IIF alum – Israel
Lecturer in Sports Industry Management – Ben Gurion University of the Negev

“This program provided the benefits of a mini global MBA…
but with access to even better and more varied guest speakers.”

Samuel Neufeld – 2022 IIF Fellow – Israel
Investment Analyst, Future Energy Ventures

WHO WILL YOU MEET?

Participants on this program will meet the drivers of Israel’s and Indonesia’s economies – high-profile business, government and thought leaders, media commentators, economists, entrepreneurs and leaders in innovation – through the program sessions, while engaging with other participants who are emerging and established leaders from Israel and Indonesia across a range of key sectors.

WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR?

The Israel-Indonesia Futures program is designed for emerging and established leaders across a range of fields – from business, innovation and technology to education, social impact, policy, culture and media – who demonstrate a track record for creating impact in their respective fields, and who are eager to contribute to the strengthening of Israel-Indonesia relations.

More information on candidate eligibility for the program can be found here.

KEY BENEFITS:

INDONESIAN PARTICIPANTS

• Develop a diverse network of peers and potential partners in business, government, innovation, venture capital, tech, education, culture, and other key sectors in Israel and internationally.
• Acquire insights and an understanding of this little-understood country – beyond the headlines.
• Gain insights and a deep understanding of the synergies between Israel and Indonesia, and meet the key people who can help you build those bridges. 
• Access valuable know-how and cultural insights.
• Embark on a journey of professional development and personal growth.
• Establish formative connections and strategic partnerships with the key drivers of Israel’s economy, start-up & innovation ecosystem.
• Join a high-level, high-impact Israel-Asia alumni network of established and future leaders.

ISRAELI PARTICIPANTS

• Acquire insights and an understanding of the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, and the synergies that exist between Israel and Indonesia.
• Acquire valuable know-how, cultural, political and economic-focused insights.
• Develop a diverse network of peers and potential partners in key sectors in Indonesia, and meet the key people who can help you build bridges between the two countries.
• Access Indonesia’s market of 270 million people.
• Nurture working relationships with Indonesian counterparts and long-term strategic ties for your company or organization.
• Join a high-level, high-impact Israel-Asia alumni network of established and future leaders.

PROGRAM ADVISORS:

Emanuel Shahaf
Vice-Chair, Israel-Indonesia Chamber of Commerce
Read bio

“This program is a wonderful opportunity for leading Indonesian and Israeli companies and social enterprises to come together and do what they are best at, for the mutual benefit of both our countries. The initiative enables a slow and controlled build-up of relationships between vastly different cultures. By the time we actually meet, apprehensions and concerns have mostly been dealt with and relatively smooth sailing lies ahead.”

INQUIRIES