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.