Prabowo invites US businesses to invest in Indonesia
Jakarta (ANTARA) — President Prabowo Subianto, during a meeting with the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC), the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), and the US-Indonesia Society (USINDO) at the USCC building in Washington DC on Wednesday afternoon local time, invited American business leaders to do business and invest in Indonesia.
At the meeting, which was also attended by representatives of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and several ministers as well as senior state-owned enterprise officials, President Prabowo revealed a number of priority programmes currently being implemented by the government, particularly 18 downstream processing projects.
President Prabowo also explained that Indonesia had succeeded in maintaining stability across various sectors, from the economy to politics, and had made changes towards clean governance whilst strengthening law enforcement to combat corruption and cartels.
“We are open, we need investment, and we want more investment, and we believe we are competitive, we are attractive, and we have large mineral reserves needed for the production of new technologies,” President Prabowo told prominent US business leaders at the Business Summit at the US Chamber of Commerce building in Washington DC on Wednesday.
“So please come to Indonesia, thank you,” the President said in closing his speech at the event.
President Prabowo spoke for approximately 45 minutes before the American business audience, raising several matters including the agreement on reciprocal trade (ART) that is set to be signed shortly, the conducive investment climate in Indonesia, opportunities for cooperation including in the energy and mineral resources sector — particularly regarding rare earth mineral reserves — and sharing achievements from his first year in office along with the government’s priority programmes.
“I have met with many US corporate leaders, even in my short time while I have been here. I am meeting with all of you now, and I feel very optimistic. We want US companies to be strategic partners,” President Prabowo told the American business audience.
The President went on to say that the Indonesian government, from one administration to the next including the current one, had always endeavoured to be a good host for investors.
“I think many of the old players and those who have participated in our economy would acknowledge the Indonesian government, and I myself will continue that tradition: We always try to protect investors. We always try to be good hosts, and create a good climate for investors,” President Prabowo said.
At the meeting, which was the President’s first engagement in Washington DC, Prabowo was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Investment and Downstream Processing/Head of BKPM and CEO of Danantara Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, Chief Investment Officer of Danantara Pandu Sjahrir, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, and Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo.
From the business community, attendees included Kadin Indonesia Chairman Anindya Novyan Bakrie, Pertamina President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri, President Director of PT Freeport Indonesia Tony Wenas, and Chairman of the Board of Freeport-McMoRan Inc Richard C. Adkerson.