Japanese businessmen ask for security, policy consistency

Japanese businessmen ask for security, policy consistency

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Japanese businessmen urged the Indonesian government on Friday to
provide better security and consistent investment policies in a
bid to lure more investment and help revive the country's ailing
economy.

Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) chairman
Aburizal Bakrie said here on Friday that the Japanese Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (Keidanren) had complained about the lack
of security and inconsistent investment policies to Vice
President Hamzah Haz.

"Japanese businessmen have submitted a list of complaints of
issues that are hampering their business, with security issues
and inconsistent policies topping the list," Aburizal said after
attending the meeting between Keidanren and Hamzah.

According to Aburizal, Japanese investment in Indonesia has
dropped significantly and Indonesia will have to do a lot to
improve the situation.

"They (Keidanren) thanked the government for paying sufficient
attention to the complaints, but expected the government to do
more," Aburizal remarked.

Japan was the largest investor and the largest oil-and-gas
importer from Indonesia until the economic crisis struck the
country in 1997.

In the meeting, the government assured Keidanren that Japan
would always receive equal treatment with other major Asian
countries such as South Korea and China.

"The Vice President said that Indonesia along with other
members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
would always provide equal treatment for Japan, South Korea and
China as ASEAN dialog partners," Aburizal remarked.

The Vice President also underlined that the entrance of China
as a World Trade Organization member did not change Indonesia's
view toward the three countries as equal economic partners.