When Indonesia Becomes the Key Destination for Foreign Trademark Registrations

JAKARTA – Indonesia has become the second most popular destination in the ASEAN region—second to Singapore—for trademark registration by foreign companies. This is marked by the growing number of foreign filings coming to Indonesia.

According to the Annual Report 2024 published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (“WIPO”), the number of trademark applications from other countries to Indonesia reached 34,634 in 2023. This represents a significant increase compared to the previous year, which recorded only 19,627 applications.

The number of foreign trademarks seeking registration in Indonesia is now comparable to that in Singapore. While Singapore remains the top priority for foreign companies registering their trademarks, Indonesia holds second place among ASEAN member countries. WIPO data shows that the number of foreign trademark applications in Singapore in 2023 reached 39,482—just slightly ahead of Indonesia. Singapore is widely recognized as one of the most business-friendly destinations in Asia, attracting entrepreneurs and foreign investors seeking expansion opportunities.

As comparison, among six ASEAN member countries, Vietnam has also emerged as a strong destination for foreign trademark registrations, surpassing Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. This is attributed to the country's favourable business environment. By 2023, Vietnam had received 34,534 foreign trademark applications, placing it third among ASEAN countries as a preferred destination for trademark registration. Thailand ranked fourth with 31,527 applications, followed by Malaysia in fifth place with 30,164, and the Philippines in sixth place with 28,528 foreign trademark applications. 

Trademark registration, which serves as a product identifier in a given country, is crucial for entrepreneurs, making legal protection of such trademarks is as essential. In global and free trade era, registering trademarks in multiple countries, including Indonesia, is vital for companies to shield themselves from any third parties’ attempt to imitate and/or unlawfully use similar/identical brands. (RIE/GMW-su)