TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Creative Economy Agency head Triawan Munaf said that South Korean investors had expressed interest in the Indonesian film industry following to its removal from the Negative Investment List (DNI).
“[South] Korea has been interested in investing [in the film industry],” Triawan told Tempo on Friday, February 12, 2016.
He explained that South Korean business owners previously could not invest in the Indonesian film industry due to the DNI.
“They couldn’t invest because not even 1 percent of foreign capital was allowed for the film industry,” he added.
However, Triawan could not confirm yet about the amount of foreign investment for the industry. He projected that the local film industry would catch up with those in other countries.
Earlier on Thursday, February 11, 2016, the government launched the tenth economic policy package revising the DNI for the film industry. Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung revealed that the policy has aimed at removing cartels owned by certain individuals.
The plan to remove the film industry from the DNI earlier sparked controversies. Indonesian Union of Cinema Owners (GPBSI) chairman Ody Mulya Hidayat viewed that the policy was hasty and could threaten the independent cinema business. On the contrary, the Indonesian Film Producer Association welcomed the policy since it would attract investors and develop the local film industry.
DEVY ERNIS | ISTMAN MP
