By APD writer Aditya Nugraha
JAKARTA, Dec. 5 (APD) -- Indonesian government sent a mission to attract investors from the United States to invest in various sectors ahead of 70th anniversary bilateral diplomatic ties relations.
The mission constituting officials from the foreign affairs ministry and Investment Coordinating Bureau (BKPM) held a business forum in the United States southern city of Houston, attended by at least 100 business people representing prominent firms, a statement released by the ministry said on Monday.
Addressing the forum, Consul General of Indonesian Consulate General Office in Houston Nana Yuliana expected results from the forum would highly contribute the efforts in attaining economic cooperation targets initially set to commemorate the 70th anniversary of bilateral ties that falls next year.
“To cope with the US$ 50 billion annual two-way trade target from that on we need to take more efforts in expanding bilateral economic cooperation,” she said.
During the event held over the weekend, related officials from the ministry and BKPM briefed the United States business people about development of Indonesian government’s investment policies as well as economic reform that highly facilitate foreign investors to operate their businesses there.
Expose about prospective investments in Indonesia was also delivered in the event, among others in infrastructure, tourism and manufactures.
Indonesia provides industrial zones to facilitate and accommodate operation of foreign investors, available in West Java and North Sulawesi province’s cities of Manado and Bitung.
BKPM Regional Promotion Facility Director Nurul Ichwan who was at presence said the United States investments now ranked sixth among foreign countries investing in Indonesia as of the third quarter this year.
With the government’s highly supporting economic reform policies, investments from the United States were expected to expand further in Indonesia.
Government has issued 16 economic reform packages since 2014, intended to attract more foreign investors to invest in Southeast Asia’s largest economy that continues to post positive high growth around 5 percent, earning investment grade status from international reputable rating agencies.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)