Special desk asked to facilitate US investors at investment board

The special desk is expected to attract more US investors increasing US investment in Indonesia.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert O. Blake asks for a special desk at the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) to facilitate U.S. investors.

The US embassy asked for a special desk on Tuesday after they learn they have no such desk yet at BKPM, head of the agency Franky Sibarani said here on Wednesday.

Franky said, US desk could contribute positively in drawing potential US investment into Indonesia.

The special desk is expected to attract more US investors increasing US investment in Indonesia.

US Investment in Indonesia has not reached an optimum level, he said.

"BKPM already have a team of marketing officers to take care of US and European investors. Therefore, a US desk would certainly be more specific in dealing with prospective investors from the United States," he said.

Based on data of FDI Market, in the period of 2010-September 2015, US investment in the world outside that country totaled US$694 billion.

Indonesia had only 1.03 percent of the US investment or the 25th largest.

Franky said Indonesia could still draw potential investments from the United States.

Based on data at BKPM, the United States is among five largest investors among foreign countries in Indonesia.

In the first nine months of this year US investment reached US$854 million and cumulatively from 2010 to Sept. 2015 , the US investment totaled US$8 billion, or the third largest after Singapore and Japan.

The Financial Times said five largest US investments in the world are in communications, soft ware and information technology service, automotive , energy and chemical sectors.

Last month President Joko Widodo visited the United States and succeeded in signing a business deal with investment worth US$2.4 billion.

"We will study the US proposal for special desk as it will need official request from the US embassy and discussion in financing and technical matters," Franky said.

So far BKPM already have desks specially help facilitate investors from countries like Japan, South Korea , Taiwan and the European Union.

Those countries placed one or two representatives at BKPM with Indonesian staff.

BKPM also has representative offices or Indonesia Investment Promotion Cente (IIPC) in the United States located in New York. The office serves to facilitate prospective U.S. investors wanting to do business in Indonesia.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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