Thu, 08 Oct 2009

From: The Jakarta Post

By Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
State-owned bank PT Bank Mandiri hosted Papua Investment day on Thursday as part of efforts to persuade businessmen to invest in Papua and West Papua provinces.

The two-day-event, which will conclude on Friday, is attended by 60 investors, 11 state enterprises, and Papua and West Papua governments.

"We try to facilitate this event so that our consumers and Papua authorities can meet each other. Our data show that China and Saudi Arabia have invested in Papua. We do not want our local investors to be left behind," Mandiri President Director Agus Martowardojo said during the opening ceremony.

He said that Papua was rich in natural resources like coal, copper, and gold.

"Papua has many resources compared with other areas," he said.

However, he acknowledged that Papua had poor infrastructure that hampers investment.

"We will urge the government to build infrastructures like ports, airports, road and electricity in Papua," he said. (Naf)