JAKARTA: The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) says it has secured US$16.7 billion in investment commitments from Chinese investors during a business forum held in Beijing on Thursday.
The agency says the $16.7 billion in investment, comprising $700 million in investment projects that principal permits have been applied for and $16 billion in investment projects that are being sounded out, was committed by five Chinese companies interested in the energy, mining, infrastructure, processing and automotive industries.
“The business forum was aimed at giving firsthand information to Chinese businesspeople so they could obtain accurate information on investment potentials and investing procedures in Indonesia,” BKPM chairman Franky Sibarani said as quoted by Antara in Jakarta on Monday.
He further said the forum was a part of the agency’s efforts to boost China’s realized investment, which it considered not optimal in Indonesia.
Franky said China’s investment plans had continued to increase during the last five years, reaching $23.3 billion. However, only 7 percent of the total investment commitments had been realized.
“That’s why BKPM plans to open a representative office in China to help Chinese investors realize their investments in Indonesia,” said Franky.