Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indian investors wishing to invest in Indonesia now have a good opportunity to do so after the Indonesian government expressed openness to receiving foreign investment.

Haris Munandar, Head of the Industry Research and Development Agency, made the statement when accompanying Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto during a visit to India.

"This policy can be seen from several deregulation and economic policy packages issued by the Jokowi administration, which include a three-hour investment service facility and facilities in the bonded logistics center," he noted in a written press statement, Wednesday.

Besides this, the government has issued Government Regulation No. 14 Year 2015 on the 2015-2019 National Development Master Plan, which is being implemented in three main stages.

"In the first stage, the National Industry Development Plans direction is intended to increase the added value of natural resources in agro-based industrial upstream, mineral, and oil and gas industries, which is followed by the development of supporting and mainstay industries selectively," he reported.

The government has also pushed for the acceleration of development and equality of industrial zones across Indonesia.

Several industrial zones experiencing significant progress in their development include those in Sei Mangke (North Sumatra), Dumai in Riau, Berau in East Kalimantan, Palu in Central Sulawesi, Kendal in Central Java, Gresik with its Java Integrated Industrial Ports and Estate (JIIPE) in East Java, and Morowali in Central Sulawesi.

India is Indonesias 8th largest trade partner, with a trade balance reaching US$14.6 billion, or 4.9 percent of Indonesias total trade value in 2015.

In the same year, India invested in 43 projects worth $15.5 million in Indonesia, an increase from the $12.89 million it invested in 2014.

India mostly invests in the food, textiles, and transportation sectors.

President Jokowi, accompanied by First Lady Iriana and several ministers, including the trade minister, was on a state visit to India on Dec 12 and 13, 2016.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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