Harvest forum will discuss thorny issues<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Unrest in Aceh and the dispute between state
\nelectricity company PT PLN and its power contractors will be the
\nmain topics of a dialog between the country's leaders and
\ninvestors on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Harvey Goldstein, president of dialog-organizer Harvest
\nInternational, said these two issues were the main concerns of
\ninvestors who wanted to maintain their investments in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
"Businesses want some kind of assurance that the investment
\nclimate in Indonesia is favorable in the long term," Goldstein
\nsaid in a statement.<\/p>\n
The dialog titled Transforming Vision to Reality will feature
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais
\nand House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
Goldstein said foreign investors were concerned by the
\nindependence movement in Aceh because it could effect the
\ncountry's political stability.<\/p>\n
"The participants believe that the Aceh problem should not be
\nconsidered as a local political issue. It should also be related
\nto Indonesia's political stability -- a prerequisite for foreign
\ninvestors to come and do business here," Goldstein said.<\/p>\n
Acehnese have intensified their demand for a self-
\ndetermination referendum over the past several months, raising
\nconcern that separatist movements elsewhere in the country could
\nbe sparked.<\/p>\n
Goldstein said the government's stance in the dispute between
\nPLN and its independent power producers (IPPs) also was crucial
\nin building confidence in the investment policies of the new
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
"Basically, what they want to know is what the government has
\nin mind to reassure them that past and future contracts will be
\nhonored and that their investments are safe," Goldstein said.<\/p>\n
PLN is seeking to renegotiate the contracts it awarded to
\nIPPs during the rule of former president Soeharto, claiming the
\ncontracts' terms are burdensome and that they were awarded
\nthrough collusion, corruption and nepotism. (jsk)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/harvest-forum-will-discuss-thorny-issues-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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