IRI Forum: Taking advantage
\nof new investment opportunity<\/p>\n
The Indonesia Regional Investment Forum (IIRIF) 2003 will be
\nheld at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) from July 2 to July 4
\nto discuss opportunities and challenges in investing in the
\ncountry's economically more independent provinces.<\/p>\n
\"The forum will provide a golden opportunity for regional
\ngovernments to convince investors that they have been relentless
\nin their efforts to create an investment-friendly environment,\"
\nsaid Bambang Soeroso, vice chairman of the Regional
\nRepresentative Faction of the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR), which is organizing the upcoming event.<\/p>\n
Themed \"To Accelerate Regional Investment In Conjunction With
\nGlobal Economic Competition\", the forum will feature a conference
\nand exhibition.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to open the
\nforum, and Vice President Hamzah Haz is to witness the signing of
\na memorandum of understanding (MOU) between investors and
\nregional administrations prior to the close of the forum.<\/p>\n
Speakers are to include Indonesian senior ministers, top
\nexecutives of major Indonesian companies and noted economic
\nanalysts. Trade and investment ministers from neighboring
\ncountries are also expected to address the forum.<\/p>\n
The conference is divided into the three separate categories
\nof Keynote Forum, Indonesian Perspective, and Investor
\nPerspective. Discussion topics include: The Economics of
\nInfrastructure Development: Identifying Needs and Attracting
\nInvestment by Minister of Settlements and Regional Infrastructure
\nSoenarno; Realizing the Potential of Indonesia's Marine and Agro
\nSector by Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Rokhmin
\nDahuri; Investing in Indonesia's Mining and Energy Sector by
\nMinister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro.
\nFuture Prospect of Investment in Indonesia to be presented by
\nHarvest International's President Director Harvey Goldstein; and
\nInvesting in Indonesia: Freeport Story by PT Freeport Indonesia's
\nPresident Director Adrianto Machribie.<\/p>\n
\"The guests will also be involved as speakers at the seminar,
\npresenting their perspective on investment activities in their
\nrespective countries,\" said Bambang.<\/p>\n
The exhibition will also feature potential investment areas in
\nvarious regencies and cities. \"Each regional government will
\nprovide information on their potential and readiness to cooperate
\nwith prospective investors,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The highlight of the IIRIF will be the signing of the MOU
\nbetween investors and regional governments, to be witnessed by
\nthe Regional Representatives Faction of the MPR.<\/p>\n
Initial activities have been launched by the organizing
\ncommittee to ensure the success of the big event. These efforts
\ninclude road shows to each province in Indonesia as well as to
\nseveral other countries in the region. \"We have visited the
\nPhilippines and Malaysia, and will visit Singapore next week.<\/p>\n
\"An effort is also underway to promote the investment forum in
\nseveral European countries, including the United Kingdom, the
\nNetherlands, Spain and Germany,\" Bambang said, adding, \"On behalf
\nof our legislators, we guarantee that Indonesia is currently safe
\nto receive investors.\"<\/p>\n
One of the most important points gained from the overseas road
\nshow, is the growing demand for security and legal certainty and
\ntangible efforts to avoid possible losses incurred by investors.<\/p>\n
\"In response to the demand, we are working jointly with the
\nCoordinating Minister of Security and Political Affairs Soesilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono, who also shares the same concerns on the need
\nto improve regional security. The minister is scheduled to
\nprovide an overview on security concerns at the forum,\" Bambang
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said that through the forum, governors and regents were
\nexpected to become aware that some of their economic policies,
\nsuch as the imposition of levies introduced as part of the
\nregional autonomy, had seriously hurt the investment climate and
\ndiscouraged investors in their respective region.<\/p>\n
\"The regional autonomy has been wrongly perceived by several
\nregional governments, and this mistaken perception has
\nsubsequently driven them to issue regulations that are contrary
\nto the spirit of decentralization,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Our task is to make them aware of this, and to ask them not
\nto repeat it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
To attract investors to the regions, regional governments are
\nencouraged to set up less complicated and less bureaucratic
\ninvestment procedures so that investors can obtain their
\ninvestment permits or other business licenses quickly.<\/p>\n
\"At least, the regional governments have a strong commitment
\nto providing a one-stop investment service,\" he said.<\/p>\n
With the regional autonomy, investors should be able to apply
\nfor investment permits from regency-level administrations,
\ninstead of through the provincial authority or the central
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
The event is being organized by the Regional Representatives
\nFaction of MPR in cooperation with the association of regency-
\nlevel governments (APKASI), the association of the Indonesian
\nmunicipality (APKESI), and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and
\nIndustry (KADIN).<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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