RI safe for investment: Gozney

PEKANBARU, Riau: English Ambassador to Indonesia Richard Gozney wooed foreign investors back to Indonesia on Monday, saying that the country is now a safe place for investment.

Gozney told Antara after a talks with Riau Governor Saleh Djasit here that the media reports of security worries recently had discouraged foreign investors, especially those with little knowledge of Indonesia, from doing business here.

He said no single English company abandoned Indonesia during the spell of security fears triggered by the U.S. retaliation attacks on Afghanistan.

Some Islamic groups in the country threatened to conduct a sweep of citizens of western countries and expelled them as an expression of solidarity to Afghanistan's Taliban regime.

Gozney said actions to restore Indonesia's image were needed to lure more investors.

During the meeting, the English envoy and Saleh also discussed the regional autonomy issue, which Gozney said "is not bad" given the fact that it had just taken effect for a year only. -- Antara