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.