Jakarta (ANTARA) - Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani invited Japanese investors to participate in the development of Indonesia's new capital (IKN), Nusantara, during her meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Tuesday.

"The two countries have been close friends for more than six decades, with extensive cooperation in various fields, ranging from the economy and education to cultural exchanges," she said in a statement issued by the DPR in Jakarta.

Maharani and her entourage were received at Kishida's office in Tokyo. The meeting is part of her working visit to Japan, during which she will be staying for the next few days.

The visit by the DPR delegation, led by Maharani, also coincided with the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Japan. Japan is Indonesia's third-largest trading partner.

She explained that Japan could invest in the construction of Nusantara. Furthermore, with the recent ratification by the DPR of Law Number 3 of 2022 on IKN, investors will be granted the Right to Cultivate (HGU) for up to 190 years.

Maharani also sought a commitment from Japanese automotive companies to make Indonesia a center of production, especially for electric vehicles. Currently, the Indonesian government is promoting the use of electric vehicles to combat global warming.

Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Industry, as of October 2023, 11 automotive companies from Japan have established vehicle assembly plants in Indonesia.

In 2022, the total production of vehicles with four or more wheels in Indonesia reached 1.17 million units, with the contribution from Japanese automotive companies accounting for 83.31 percent.

This is anticipated to position Indonesia as one of the largest vehicle production hubs in the ASEAN region.

"Of course, we hope that Japan can also become a partner investing in various sectors in Indonesia, such as the automotive industry and the ongoing development of IKN Nusantara," she said.

She emphasized that the DPR will cooperate with the Japanese Parliament to support the governments of both nations in carrying out cooperation that is inclusive and beneficial for the people.

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Translator: Fauzi, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
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