Retail & E-Commerce

A large and youthful population, a fast-rising middle class and rapid digitalisation have underpinned strong growth in Indonesia’s retail and e-commerce sectors. Indonesian shoppers are the third-most optimistic globally, with consumer confidence benefitting from a steady rise in incomes that has supported recent growth in personal consumption and retail sales. New retail supply is on the rise in Jakarta and also across secondary cities, while occupancy rates of premium-class shopping centres remain above 90%. The formal retail sector could come under pressure in the coming years, however, as rapid growth in e-commerce activities is challenging traditional retail models. Although retail activity remains concentrated in bricks-and-mortar stores and shopping malls, e-commerce growth has soared in recent years, with online sales and customer volumes recording consistent double-digit growth since 2013. This chapter also contains an interview with William Tanuwijaya, CEO and Founder, Tokopedia.