As a single country, it is a small nation, but we have to view it as a region in the GCC."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A total of 33 Omani businessmen attended the Indonesia-Oman Business Forum here on Wednesday and met 50 Indonesian businesspersons to explore investment opportunities in the country.

Chief of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Thomas Trikasih Lembong stated that the business delegation represented various sectors, including construction, export and import, property, manufacturing, mining, logistics, tourism, information technology, and banking.

"The visit by the Omani delegation has shown that investment interest from Middle East countries has begun emerging. We will cooperate with Kadin (the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and the Foreign Affairs Minister to grab the opportunity," Lembong noted in a statement.

Lembong believed that in order to attract Omani investment, Indonesia will need to apply a regional approach and treated Oman as a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

"As a single country, it is a small nation, but we have to view it as a region in the GCC. Similarly, when people said, investment in France or Italy is too small, we have to see it as a region of the European Union," he explained.

According to data of the BKPM, Omani investment realization in Indonesia during the 2010-2016 period was ranked 101 and was recorded at US$211 thousand.

The investment was focused on two sectors: food crops and plantation as well as electricity, gas, and water.

Based on FDI Market data, Omans capital expenditures were made in South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.

During the 2012-2016 period, 48 percent of the investment in Indonesia was mainly in the manufacturing sector.

Hence, investment promotion is crucial to achieving the governments target of Rp678.8 trillion of the domestic and foreign investment in 2017, Lembong stated.

In 2018, the government has targeted to increase investment to Rp863 trillion.

The forum was also attended by Kadin Chairman Rosan P. Roeslani, Oman Ambassador Nazar Said, the economic advisor of the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development, and chairman of the Omani Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

(Reported by Ade Irma Junida/Uu.S022/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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