The foreign direct investment numbers from Switzerland remain low, but it has good potential in this country. For instance, there are chemical companies since the sector is currently essential
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government expects Switzerland to allocate more investments in the country since both nations are considered to have great economical potential, an official of the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment stated Thursday. "The foreign direct investment numbers from Switzerland remain low, but it has good potential in this country. For instance, there are chemical companies since the sector is currently essential," Acting Deputy of Investment Coordination and Mining of the ministry, Septian Hario Seto said.

The increase of investment number would affect trade activities between the two countries, he added. As observed, the export number from Indonesia for some commodities, including gold, footwear, coffee and furniture, is not massive yet.

"Export numbers are still low, around one percent. If it could rise two to three times, that would be great," Seto noted.

While the Head of SwissCham Indonesia, Luthfi Mardiansyah, explained that the country's investment in Indonesia reached CHF7 billion (or US$7.2 billion) during 2019, that placed Switzerland in fourth position among European investors in Indonesia.

"Yet, it remains low compared to the budget they own," Mardiansyah stated.

Several sectors that they had been working o are manufacture, pharmacy and chemical products. While potential sectors are agricultural, farming and fisheries, Mardiansyah added.

"We have all the capabilities in the agricultural sector, also the companies. But the government has not acknowledged those as the added value of Swiss companies. We will go that way," he said. (INE)

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Translator: Ade Irma Junida, Suwanti
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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