Government officials on Wednesday appeared to distance themselves from Dubai-based Emaar Properties\u2019 $600 million mega-resort project in Lombok, ahead of today\u2019s deadline to finalize the deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s better to call Emaar directly, I\u2019m sorry,\u201d Alwi Shihab, the special presidential envoy to the Middle East, said when asked about the project\u2019s future. Alwi has been at the helm of efforts to land the deal.<\/p>\n
The Lombok project, announced with great fanfare by former Vice President Jusuf Kalla in May 2007, envisioned a 1,200-hectare development that would transform the Kuta and Tanjung A\u2019an beaches into a world-class resort run by a joint venture between Emaar, the state-owned Bali Tourism Development Corp. and local governments.<\/p>\n
According to documents from talks between the parties, poor access to roads and communications, land acquisition issues, and disputes over stakes in the venture, soured Emaar on the deal.<\/p>\n
Dubai\u2019s debt crisis may also be putting pressure on Emaar, which declined to comment on when contacted by the Jakarta Globe.<\/p>\n
On June 18 the parties extended the joint-venture agreement until Dec. 31, giving the government extra time to fulfill Emaar\u2019s conditions.<\/p>\n
Hilmi Gasim, Alwi\u2019s assistant, said there was no agreement yet to extend the investment plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cCommunication between Emaar and BTDC is still good. I think the plan could still go forward,\u201d Hilmi said.<\/p>\n
I Made Mandra, BTDC\u2019s chief executive, did not respond to repeated attempts to reach him on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still waiting for certainty on Emaar\u2019s investment,\u201d said Eko Bambang Sutedjo, from the West Nusa Tengarra government.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/deal-seems-unlikely-for-emaar-lombok-project-1262219610", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }