American investors upbeat on RI
American investors upbeat on RI
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A delegation of American investors under the U.S.-ASEAN
Business Council met with senior government officials and
reiterated their confidence about investing here despite recent
reports of alleged terrorist activities sparking fresh security
concerns.
Said to be the biggest delegation of U.S. investors visiting
Indonesia this year, the group of 50 senior executives from 35 of
America's top companies arrived for the business council's annual
meeting from Sept. 14 to Sept. 15 in Bali. Their visit ended on
Tuesday.
"Our continuous presence in Indonesia as well as this visit is
a vote of confidence in Indonesia," said council chairman Charles
Williamson as quoted in a government statement on Tuesday.
The group met Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun
Kuntjoro-Jakti and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare
Yusuf Kalla to discuss Indonesia's economic recovery while
exploring U.S.-Indonesia business opportunities, said the
statement.
The council is a leading American private business
organization dedicated to promoting increased trade and
investment between the United States and the member nations of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
During the meeting with Dorodjatun, the U.S. delegation raised
thorny issues that have been clouding investment prospects like
the sanctity of contracts and intellectual property rights.
However it also inquired about investment opportunities in the
energy, telecommunication and banking sectors as the government
plans to step up its privatization drive.
"In contrast to various statements recently made regarding
the viability of investment in our country, I will categorically
state for the record that Indonesia is open for business and
ready to roll out the welcome mat for U.S. investors," Dorodjatun
said.
His statement came a week after the U.S. government ordered
the closure of its embassy in Jakarta and in other parts of the
world due to security threats America vaguely linked to
terrorism.
The move has dragged Indonesia into the spotlight over fears
about terrorism at a time when America is observing the first
anniversary of terrorist strikes against New York and the
Pentagon.
Radicals last week renewed threats to expel American citizens
should their government attack Iraq, although similar threats
last year were not acted upon.