Bali explores investment cooperation with Europe beyond tourism
The Provincial Government of Bali is opening up opportunities for investment cooperation with European countries outside the tourism sector.
“Bali not only has strength in the tourism sector, but also has development opportunities in various fields that can provide added value for the regional economy,” said Bali Governor Wayan Koster in a press release received in Denpasar on Sunday.
The Governor of Bali made the statement during a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended by Director of Europe II Punjul S. Nugraha, Chair of the Amerop Health Diplomacy Coordination Rossy Verona, Deputy Chair of the Indonesia-Europe Business Forum (IEBF) F. Bernard Loesi, Deputy Chair of IEBF Yudhono Irawan, and Coordinator of the Russia, Belarus, Armenia Cluster Function at the Directorate of Europe II Dandy L. Soeparan.
The Governor of Bali began by outlining the economic development of Bali Province, including various investment potentials and cooperation opportunities that can be offered to international partners.
Given that not only the tourism sector can be developed, international cooperation networks need to be continuously expanded and directed towards investments that provide tangible benefits to the people of Bali.
Governor Koster said the meeting agreed on the importance of strengthening synergy between the Bali Provincial Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in attracting foreign investment to Bali. Cooperation will be directed primarily at the health sector as well as the development of the local creative industry.
The presence of private and foreign investment is considered important to support the development of health facilities so that their development does not depend entirely on the capacity of the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD).
“With the support of economic diplomacy and international partner networks, Bali is expected to be increasingly able to open access to investment, technology, markets, and global collaboration, while strengthening independent and sustainable regional development that remains anchored in Bali’s local potential,” he said.
Meanwhile, Director of Europe II at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Punjul S. Nugraha outlined the development of the Indonesia-Europe Business Forum (IEBF), a forum that brings together stakeholders, Indonesian companies, European companies, and strategic partners from the European region.
The forum serves as an important entry point for expanding business networks and opening more concrete cooperation opportunities between Indonesia, particularly Bali, and Europe.
The discussion then developed into strengthening economic diplomacy combined with the health sector.
“Bali has great potential to develop health services that not only meet the needs of the local community, but also have appeal for people from outside Bali and abroad,” he said.
In this context, the forum discussed the alignment between the potential of the health sector in Bali, the needs of the regional government, and the support that can be facilitated through diplomatic channels and international networks. One area of focus is the plan to develop a hospital with thematic services.
This development will help Bali strengthen the quality and variety of health services, while opening up broader space for the involvement of other foreign partners and investors.
He said a number of prospective partners have already shown interest in contributing to the provision of medical equipment after conducting direct visits to several hospitals in Bali.
These visits can serve as an initial step to see first-hand the needs of health facilities while identifying forms of cooperation that can be developed in the future.