Badung, Bali (ANTARA) - Indonesia's investment minister urged the National Police to act sternly against foreigners who are involved in drug trafficking operations and online gambling in the country, as they have posed threats to the country's investment climate.

Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said in Bali on Tuesday that related authorities to expel foreign travelers found to exhibit errant behavior in Indonesia, including those involved in drug and unlawful internet gambling offenses, and creating commotion in public.

To this end, Pandjaitan said he has coordinated with his counterpart, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly.

The presence of such errant foreign nationals has disrupted the investment climate in Indonesia, he told journalists after addressing 159 police officers at a technical working group meeting here.

Pandjaitan further said he would hold a special meeting with National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to prepare for the crackdown on foreign drug traffickers underpinned by a new regulation.

"Foreign travelers will comfortably visit Indonesia if they feel comfortable and get protected from crimes, such as drugs. Sometime next week, I will hold the meeting for preparing the new regulation," he remarked.

In protecting Indonesia's investment climate that he claimed to have currently been "good" from those behaving errantly in the country, the National Police play an important role in maintaining it, he affirmed.

The working group meeting, held by the National Police, was joined by 159 offline participants and 12 thousand online participants. In addition to Pandjaitan, several other cabinet members spoke at the event.

Home Minister Tito Karnavian and Economic Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto also spoke at the meeting taking place in Kuta, Badung District, Bali Province.

According to the official website of the US Department of State's 2023 Investment Climate Statements on Wednesday, Indonesia's investment climate has improved much over the past decade. However, some US investors point out that several things to be developed including bureaucratic inefficiency, delays in land acquisition and the tendering process for infrastructure projects, weak enforcement of contracts, and delays in receiving refunds for advance corporate tax overpayments.

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Translator: Rolandus N, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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