U.S. praises security in Indonesia<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce praised the
\nIndonesian government on Monday for its efforts to protect
\nforeign investors in the country, including Americans, but warned
\nthat investors were still concerned about the security of their
\ninvestments.<\/p>\n
Boyce acknowledged that the Indonesian government had taken
\nserious steps to ensure the personal safety of American investors
\nand other foreigners, who appeared at risk several months ago
\nduring the political tension following the U.S.-led war against
\nAfghanistan's Taliban regime.<\/p>\n
\"We take seriously the government's responsibility to protect
\nAmericans -- not only Americans but also other foreigners in
\nIndonesia. We welcome it.\"<\/p>\n
But, he said, \"Investors will come to Indonesia not based on
\nfears, somehow, that they would be physically threatened, but
\nrather in the hope that the capital invested in Indonesia would
\nbe secure and that means transparency, rule of law, protection
\nlegally, etc.,\" Boyce told a press conference.<\/p>\n
Some local radical groups threatened to attack U.S. interests
\nand citizens in Indonesia following the U.S. government's move to
\nstrike at Afghanistan several months ago.<\/p>\n
Some U.S. companies temporarily closed their offices here
\nfollowing the threats.<\/p>\n
But the government was quick to give assurances about the
\nsafety of foreign workers in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Boyce, along with 12 members of the American Chamber of
\nCommerce (AmCham) in Singapore, earlier met with President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri and Minister of Trade and Industry Rini M.
\nSoewandi.<\/p>\n
The AmCham delegation is in Indonesia for a two-day visit to
\nassess business opportunities in this country. The delegation is
\nled by AmCham Singapore president Landis W. Hicks.<\/p>\n
The delegates include Tan Hup Thye from Refco Singapore Pte
\nLtd., Stuart Dean of GE International, and Edward Gilbert of
\nMerrill Lynch (Asia Pacific) Ltd.<\/p>\n
\"The Singapore-based members of this mission want to hear from
\nsenior members of the Indonesian government about efforts to
\nexpand foreign business participation in the economy. We know
\nthat Indonesia is a country of enormous potential and believe
\nthat now is the time to build our future together,\" Hicks said in
\na statement.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Rini said after a meeting with the AmCham
\ndelegation that almost all of the delegation members had praised
\nthe current security situation in the country.<\/p>\n
Rini said she had pointed to the Batam and Bintan islands as
\nsecure places for doing business, citing the small number of
\nlabor disputes in both islands.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-praises-security-in-indonesia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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