TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - During a working visit to Japan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan invited Japanese investors to develop nickel and bauxite smelters in Sulawesi.

“They will send a team to see Morowali as a model. Nickel can have an added value nine times as much. If it’s derived to carbon, we won’t need to import materials to manufacture cellphones and spoons,” Luhut said at his office in Jakarta on Friday, December 23, 2016.

In addition, Luhut signed a cooperation agreement with Japan to strengthen partnership in the maritime and industry sectors.

“Japan sees investment opportunities in the fish market in Natuna Besar and in the energy sector in East Natuna. Japan also views that Sabang can be a perfect location to build a port,” he explained.

The Minister added that the Maritime Security Board (Bakamla) will also work with Japanese coast guard to address illegal fishing and smuggling issues, as well as cleaning up the ocean.

“Indonesia has the second most polluted ocean in the world. We want to address that, and it needs cooperation with Japan,” he revealed.

In the transportation sector, Luhut said, the Indonesian government and Japan have agreed to add Garuda Indonesia’s flights serving Jakarta-Tokyo-Los Angeles routes.

According to him, the value of cooperation to develop the projects and run the programs is huge.

“When it’s official, we will announce it in January. We’re still finalizing the figure so that Japan will remain the second largest investor [in Indonesia] after Singapore,” he said.

ANGELINA ANJAR SAWITRI