TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-The Indonesian government has offered opportunities for foreign investors to participate in infrastructure development in Indonesia. Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed said that Malaysian investors had been interested to develop Indonesian infrastructure projects.

“Malaysian (investors) are interested in the 35,000 MW electricity project. They are also interested in port, toll road and other infrastructure projects,” Mustapa said on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 in Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Jakarta.

Mustapa said that Malaysia had made investments in oil palm plantation, banking, telecommunication, oil and gas sectors in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Indonesia had made investments in the hotel and property sectors. Mustapa hopes that both countries would strengthen ties in economic cooperation in the future.

According to Mustapa, the investment ratio between Malaysia and Indonesia is significantly large at 10:1. Meaning that every US$10 invested in Indonesia by Malaysian equal to US$1 invested in Malaysia by Indonesian investors.

“I want to see Indonesian business owners to invest more in Malaysia, because we want the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) to be win-win cooperation, instead of a win-lose,” Mustapa added.

Mustapa revealed that both countries had agreed to increase the current trade value of US$19 billion to US$30 billion by 2020. The target, Mustapa added, was considerably high, but it would not be impossible to achieve. Mustapa said that Indonesia had certain conditions to improve the trade value, including its large population and potential economic growth. In addition, the growth of middle class segment in the country would be appealing for investors.

“These will increase Indonesian market. The larger market would provide an opportunity for Malaysian companies to do business,” Mustapa said.

AMIRULLAH