Japanese investors keen on RI despite car policy: Sanwa<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A Japanese research group said yesterday
\nIndonesia remained an attractive place for Japanese investors to
\ndo business despite its controversial national car policy.<\/p>\n
The president of Sanwa Research Institute and Consulting
\n(SRIC) Corporation, Nobutaka Yamamoto, said here yesterday that
\nJapanese firms were highly confident about investing in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
"So far there has not been a single Japanese firm which has
\ncanceled its investment commitments here because of the national
\ncar policy," Yamamoto told a press conference to mark the opening
\nof SRIC's Jakarta representative office.<\/p>\n
He said most Japanese firms, especially those with operations
\nin Indonesia, were closely following the development and
\nimplementation of the national car policy.<\/p>\n
"I think the Japanese agree with the idea of developing a
\nnational car. Every country has the right to build its own
\nnational car. We just have different perceptions on how to
\nimplement it," Yamamoto said.<\/p>\n
Local automotive analyst Suhari Sargo said yesterday he
\ndoubted the introduction of the national car, called Timor, would
\ndiscourage foreign investors, arguing it did not pose a
\nsignificant threat to existing car producers, mostly Japanese-
\naffiliated firms.<\/p>\n
Yamamoto agreed that the national car issue would not
\ndiscourage Japanese investment in Indonesia, especially non-
\nautomotive investment.<\/p>\n
What matters most for Japanese firms intending to invest
\nabroad is political, social and economic stability in the host
\ncountries, he said.<\/p>\n
"And for countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore,
\nsuch political, social and economic stability is something
\nguaranteed," he said.<\/p>\n
He said what attracted Japanese firms to Indonesia most was
\nits infrastructure, such as seaports and airports near industrial
\nestates and its free foreign exchange regime, which did not
\nrestrict international flows of capital.<\/p>\n
But, he said, most Japanese firms were disappointed with
\nIndonesian workers: "Low quality labor usually makes unqualified
\nproducts. That is what matters to Japanese firms."<\/p>\n
He said Japanese firms wanting to export from Indonesia would
\nlook for factors which could undermine their competitiveness
\nabroad, including policy issues, before investing here.<\/p>\n
He said many Japanese firms in Indonesia were export oriented,
\nbut there was a trend that more Japanese investors were arriving
\nto tap Indonesia's huge domestic market.<\/p>\n
If they choose to target the domestic market, Japanese firms
\nwill pay more attention to distribution networks, road
\ninfrastructure and consistent government policy, he said.<\/p>\n
SRIC Corporation is one of Japan's three largest consulting
\nfirms, serving over 10,000 companies, mostly Japanese. The
\nJakarta office is its second overseas representative office after
\nits office in Shanghai, China.<\/p>\n
SRIC Corporation managing director Morio Miyazaki said the
\nJakarta office aimed to provide information for Japanese firms
\nhere and in Japan about the business environment and
\nopportunities in Indonesia. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japanese-investors-keen-on-ri-despite-car-policy-sanwa-1447893297",
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