TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan said that the United States is committed to investing in Indonesia. According to the minister, discussions have been held with regard to a number of projects.

Luhut made the statement after meeting Adam Boehler, CEO of the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Luhut said the DFC currently has US$60 billion financing capacity.

“We have held discussions for several projects. Right now, the team is still working. They might [invest] in the Java or Sumatra Toll Roads, and perhaps tourism, as well as in sovereign wealth funds—for which we could also collaborate with Japan, Australia, the US, or other nations," Luhut said here on Friday, January 10.

Adam Boehler said that the DFC is a new institution in the U.S., with US$60 billion worth of its financing budget provided by the state government. Boehler said the funding volume would be increased by four to five times, designated for investments in developing countries.

"We were just established two weeks ago, and our first visit is to Indonesia, which goes to show how important Indonesia is to the U.S.," he remarked.

Boehler added that there have been talks of investing in Indonesia, particularly on projects in infrastructure, health, road construction, and energy

Meanwhile, US' state development bank International Development Finance Corporation is partnering with the private sector to finance efforts in creating solutions to today's biggest investment challenges in developing countries.

The DFC invests in energy, health services, important infrastructure and telecommunications projects, as well as acting as a financier to micro-businesses and women entrepreneurs and establish job opportunities in developing markets.

HENDARTYO HANGGI