Japan especially asked for bigger opportunity to invest in automotive industry in Indonesia, Kalla said here on Wednesday.
"The Japanese did not ask for too much. They only want bigger opportunity to invest in Indonesia. They want to increase investment in Indonesia. They even want to have more investment groups," he told Antara news agency.
Kalla was in Tokyo to attend the 24th International Conference on the Future of Asia held at the Imperial Hotel from Monday to Wednesday.
During in Tokyo, Kalla held meetings with a number of country leaders and business representatives such as from Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, New Zealand Minister for Trade David Parker, MUFG Bank, Marubeni Corporation, and Chairman of Japan-Indonesia (Japinda).
"Almost all of them expressed interest in increasing investment and expanding business in Indonesia," Kalla said.
MUTG Bank offered to team up with small and medium businesses in Indonesia to develop small and medium industries, he said.
He said Japan is interested in two things they see in Indonesia -- huge market and abundant availability of cheap labor..
"All want to increase investment . None of them complain about anything," he repeated.
The Japanese government and business leaders have changed in their position facing Indonesia, he said.
Previously Japanese investors tended to dictate conditions, but now investment is made in line with the requirements set by the Indonesian government, he added.
"For them investment is what they need without any conditions. It is the other way round. Not what I want but what Indonesia needs," he said
In his talks with Parker, Kalla said the New Zealand Minister offered to supply beef and milk to Indonesia.
Kalla said he he told Parker that New Zealand could increase exports of the food commodities to Indonesia, but has to be ready to compete with other countries such as Brazil Australia and India .
"New Zealand also wanted to promote trade with Indonesia and offered technology in geothermal power production," he said. (AS)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
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