"Many countries have expressed interest in cooperating with Indonesia, especially in the economic field ," he said when opening a national meeting of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) here on Friday.
As head of state and government, he said, he had learned about it from the interest foreign heads of states or government had expressed in visiting Indonesia.
He said he had received 40 requests for state visits to Indonesia in 2011, sent by heads of state from friendly countries.
"I raised this to assure us that `there is great opportunity` for building cooperation and partnership with friendly countries," he said.
President Yudhoyono saw several factors that have attracted some countries to cooperate with Indonesia such as the country`s potential market growth in addition to its rich natural resources and abundant skilled human resources.
He said although the interest of foreign countries to invest in the country was strong he hoped businessmen in KADIN would be able to take the opportunity well.
"KADIN must first invest and become the host in the country," he said.
President Yudhoyono also hoped that state officials, businesses and the community would jointly build Indonesia to make it more interested for foreign investors.
He said the effort could be taken through development of appropriate infrastructure in and outside Java island.(*)
(H-YH/HAJM/H-YH)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
