ASEAN Economic Forum Supports CEO Masters Indonesia 2026 in Advancing Business Connectivity Through Golf

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The ASEAN Economic Forum (AEF) supported CEO Masters Indonesia 2026, an initiative that brought together business leaders, investors, and golfers to strengthen professional connections and encourage cross-border collaboration through sport. Held at Pondok Indah Golf Course, Jakarta, on 10 October 2026, the inaugural tournament underscored the potential of sporting platforms to complement broader efforts to advance economic diplomacy and sports tourism.

Organised under the slogan Play. Connect. Lead., CEO Masters Indonesia 2026 brought together prominent figures from Indonesia and India, including Chairman of Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council (DPD) Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin, entrepreneur and investor Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev, Ambassador of India to Indonesia Sandeep Chakravorty, Indonesia Economic Forum (IEF) Founder and CEO Sachin Vijaya Gopalan, and CEO ASEAN Economic Forum (AEF) Ashish Kapahi.

Through its support for the initiative, AEF aligns with the broader objective of fostering meaningful connections among business leaders and stakeholders across markets. The event provided a setting for participants to engage beyond conventional business environments, creating opportunities for dialogue, relationship-building, and potential collaboration.

“At the ASEAN Economic Forum, we believe meaningful business connectivity can be built not only in formal conference rooms, but also through platforms that bring leaders together around shared experiences. We are pleased to support CEO Masters Indonesia 2026, which creates opportunities to strengthen relationships between Indonesia, India, and the wider ASEAN business community.” — Ashish Kapahi

CEO Masters Indonesia 2026 highlighted how sporting events can provide an alternative setting for strengthening economic relationships. By bringing together business leaders and investors from different backgrounds, the tournament created opportunities to develop professional connections and explore potential areas of cooperation.

Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin described the gathering as an opportunity to advance economic diplomacy, attract investment, and strengthen Indonesia’s international partnerships.

This brings together top CEOs from Indonesia and abroad. “For me, this is part of economic diplomacy. Indonesia needs more partners who invest in our country and develop a greater appreciation for our nation. We present Indonesia as humble, welcoming, enjoyable, yet productive,” Sultan said.

He also highlighted opportunities for business-to-business collaboration and closer economic cooperation between Indonesia and India, emphasising the importance of connecting businesses and investors across both countries.

These objectives reflect the wider significance of platforms such as CEO Masters Indonesia, where professional relationships developed through shared experiences can help create pathways for future engagement.

The role of golf in building relationships was a central theme of the event’s fireside chat, featuring Kapil Dev and moderated by Sachin Vijaya Gopalan.

Reflecting on his transition from professional cricket to golf, Kapil explained how the sport had enabled him to meet people from different backgrounds and establish lasting friendships.

“I played for India for 15 years. I never met so many people, but through golf, I have met so many people and made so many friends. It is unbelievable,” Kapil said.

He noted that the time spent together during a round of golf creates opportunities for meaningful conversations and stronger personal connections.

“Golf is a beautiful game because you spend four to five hours with other people. When you meet people and spend that much time together, I think that is something truly special,” he said.

Beyond the competition itself, this emphasis on interpersonal connections illustrates how sporting platforms can bring business leaders together in a more informal environment, complementing established channels of professional engagement.

The event also highlighted the potential of international sporting figures and golf-related activities to contribute to Indonesia’s sports tourism ambitions.

Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno emphasised the opportunity to leverage the presence of internationally recognised figures to promote tourism and generate broader economic benefits.

“CEO Masters is an outstanding initiative for driving the growth of sports tourism. The presence of a global superstar like Kapil Dev in Indonesia must be utilized as effectively as possible to boost the national economy,” Sandiaga said.

The tournament also featured a Race to Dubai pathway, offering winners an opportunity to continue competing in Dubai and further connecting the Indonesian event with the international golf circuit.

For initiatives supported by organisations such as AEF, these connections between sport, business, and international engagement offer a platform to encourage broader participation and strengthen relationships across markets.

During the gala dinner and awards ceremony, Prakash Vijaykumar expressed his appreciation to the participants, sponsors, professional golfers, and organising team who contributed to the inaugural edition. He also expressed confidence that future editions would expand in scale.

Russell Yeomans similarly highlighted the ambition to grow CEO Masters internationally, with relationships formed among participants remaining central to the initiative’s vision.

Kapil Dev also stressed the importance of commitment and sponsorship in sustaining sporting events, while welcoming women’s participation and encouraging greater opportunities for women in sport.

At the awards ceremony, Lok Budianto and Divya Ahuja were crowned champions of CEO Masters Indonesia 2026, while Noah Haji and Aditya Arsyad finished as runners-up.

The inaugural edition marks a starting point for an initiative that seeks to connect sport, leadership, and international business networking. With ambitions to expand internationally and opportunities linked to Dubai, CEO Masters Indonesia offers a setting in which sporting participation and professional relationships can develop alongside broader economic engagement.

For the ASEAN Economic Forum, supporting initiatives that bring business leaders and international stakeholders together is aligned with the wider value of fostering dialogue, connectivity, and opportunities for collaboration across markets. CEO Masters Indonesia 2026 illustrates how platforms beyond traditional business forums can contribute to these connections while supporting Indonesia’s sports tourism ambitions.