TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – US investors pledged to double the amount of their investment in Indonesia, provided the government afford a friendly investment climate. American investors will invest an additional US$61 billion over the next five years, said Andrew White, managing director of American Chamber of (AmCham) Indonesia.

Speaking before the press at the US-Indonesia Investment Summit at the Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta, yesterday, Myron Brilliant, executive vice president and head of international affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said US investors are eager to work with the new president Joko Widodo, and help support his economic growth plans.

Myron said the president will use this momentum to create a friendly investment climate and considers foreign investors as Indonesia's partner in doing so.

Andrew White said US businessmen are willing to place their money in Indonesia through foreign direct investment (FDI) instead of investing in stock portfolios. FDI, said Andrew, shows American investors are fully committed to invest, as they will build factories.

"Once our foot is set, this type of investment is not so easy to be transferred to another place. Unlike investing in stock portfolios where investors can withdraw their funds at any time from the capital market," said Andrew.

US companies remain as one of Indonesia's biggest investors over the last decade. From 2004 to 2012, the value of US companies' investment in Indonesia totaled at US$65 billion.

AMIRULLAH | AMOS SIMANUNGKALIT