TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Minister of Investment and Head of the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia, met with 12 leaders of United States companies in Washington DC on May 12, 2022, to explore investment cooperation.

The meeting, which was also attended by Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi, Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Rosan Roeslani, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) Arsjad Rasjid, and Chairman of HIPMI Mardani H. Maming, discusses chances of investment collaboration with Indonesian national bussiness owners, especially local and Micro, Small, and Medium enterprises.

"Because we asserted that a developing investment must be utilized by all, and can grow together," Bahlil said in a written statement on Friday, May 13, 2022.

Meanwhile, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that one of the focus of the Indonesia Government is related to the development of a green economic ecosystem through energy transition fossil fuel to renewable energy, restoration of ecoxyxtems such as mangrove forests, peatland, and tropical rainforest.

Luhut asserted that the value added policy implemented by the Indonesian Government since back in 2014 had provided positive economic impacts, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Therefore, currently the Indonesian Government welcomed foreign investors' interest in sectors related to the green economic ecosystem, especially on energy transition and industrial areas, and value-added industry," Luhut said.

The twelve company leaders are engaged in various economic sector, among others data center technology, oil and gas, pharmacy and health, renewable energy, mining smelter, food industry, and LED lights industry.

Chairman, President, and CEO of Air Products Seifi Ghasemi appreciated the Indonesian Government's support in making sure that the investment by Air Products in Indonesia can be achieved. "We believe that Indonesia has a bright future, especially because of the young and dynamic Indonesian population, abundant natural resources, and a progressive democratic government supporting investments from various countries," Seifi said.

Freeport MacMoran, one of the companies present in the meeting, also appreciated and expressed their pride of the cooperation between Freeport and Indonesia for 55 years since the 1970s. Freeport MacMoran president Kathleen Quirk said that Freeport has plans to invest in copper for the long-term period.

"We highly appreciate the collaboration that has been going on become stronger and better and transparent communication.

Based on data of BKPM, the actualisation of investment from the United States since 2000 until 2021 had reached USD 19.5 billion or equal to IDR 85 trillion. Especially in 2021, investments from the United States experienced a major surge as many as 234% percent from the previous year with a total investment of USD 2.5 billion or equals to IDR 36.6 trillion and is in the fourth place.

EKA YUDHA SAPUTRA