TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) has invited British investors to participate in Indonesia's infrastructure project developments through a business forum themed "Infrastructure Investment Opportunity in Indonesia".
As many as 130 British investors are expected to attend the business forum, held by the Indonesian Embassy in London, in collaboration with the BKPM, the Tanjung Pinang Industrial Zone Agency, the UK-ASEAN Business Council Asia House, and Allen & Overy.
BKPM head Thomas Lembong has been scheduled to speak in the forum. In addition, the forum will be opened by Indonesian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland Rizal Sukma.
Lembong explained that the forum is important for both countries, since the UK is the seventh largest investor in Indonesia. In addition, Indonesia serves as the 14th largest investment destination for the UK over the last five years.
"The realization of UK’s investments in Indonesia in the period of 2011-2016 has reached 4.6 billion, with the biggest proportion of the investment is allocated to the chemical and pharmacy sector at 55 percent, the food industry at 19.6 percent, and the food crops and plantation sector at 12.5 percent," Lembong said in a press release, as quoted by Antaranews.com on Thursday, September 29, 2016.
Lembong added that the BKPM would pitch improvements made by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration, including those related to economic policies, such as the one-stop integrated service (PTSP), the three-hour investment service, the direct construction investment incentive (KLIK), the permit procedures simplification, tax incentive, and the bonded logistics center.
In addition, Lembong also pitched programs that are expected to reinforce the country in the future, "such as the tax amnesty program that will have positive impacts, including an expansion of the taxpayer base in Indonesia."
Data from the Financial Times revealed that the potential of UK's investment in Indonesia remains huge. In addition, Indonesia receives about 1 percent of the total foreign direct investment, or 23 percent of the total ASEAN's direct investment value.
ANTARA