KADIN says RI must woo ASEAN investors<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (JP): The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and
\nIndustry (KADIN) suggested yesterday government officials and
\nbusinesspeople be more aggressive in attracting foreign investors
\nfrom neighboring countries.<\/p>\n
KADIN chairman Aburizal Bakrie said here that Malaysia,
\nThailand and Singapore, had become net investing countries.<\/p>\n
\"We need a lot of capital to develop our economy, and
\ncountries like Malaysia now have capital to invest abroad. It's
\nup to us how to attract them to invest more in our country,\"
\nAburizal said.<\/p>\n
Aburizal is touring Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the
\nPhilippines to promote the first biannual ASEAN business summit
\nat the Jakarta Convention Center next month.<\/p>\n
More than 600 business leaders and fund managers from ASEAN
\nand its major trading partners will attend the summit.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Nasaruddin Koro, an official at the Indonesian embassy in
\nMalaysia said Malaysia had aggressively expanded its businesses
\nabroad.<\/p>\n
\"Malaysian businesses have invested billions of dollars
\nabroad, of which Indonesia got only very little,\" Nasaruddin said
\nat a meeting with KADIN executives.<\/p>\n
He said Malaysian businesspeople had formed many links with
\nforeign counterparts but not with Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Aburizal shared Nasaruddin's disappointment and said Malaysian
\nbusinesspeople faced many hurdles to investing in Indonesia. They
\neven had difficulties finding suitable Indonesian business
\npartners.<\/p>\n
And Indonesian businesspeople did not yet consider Malaysian
\nbusinesses as prospective partners. They preferred partners from
\nmajor investing countries like the U.S., Britain and Japan to
\nneighboring countries.<\/p>\n
\"This matter has been reported to President Soeharto,\"
\nAburizal said.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesian and Malaysian business leaders would soon
\nform a business council to bridge their business interests.<\/p>\n
\"When this institution is up and running it will help
\nbusinesses from both countries sound out more venture
\nopportunities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad support for
\nthe establishment of the Indonesia-Malaysia business council.<\/p>\n
Malaysia has 20 million people and in 1995 had a per capita
\nincome of US$3,930 a year. Its exports were estimated at US$86.2
\nbillion last year, while imports were estimated at $83.9 billion.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has 200 million people and last year had a per
\ncapita income of just over $1,000. Its exports were estimated at
\n$51.9 billion last year, and imports at $45 billion.<\/p>\n
Topping the list of the largest investors in Indonesia in the
\n1995\/1996 fiscal year were Japan, Britain and Hong Kong. Japan
\ninvested $7.11 billion, the UK $5.71 billion and Hong Kong $2.16
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
In the same period, Singapore invested $2.17 billion, Thailand
\n$1.63 billion and Malaysia $1.37 billion. (rid)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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