The country`s minister of national development planning, Armida S Alisjahbana, expressed the wish when receiving the vice president of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Izumi Arai, here on Wednesday.
At the meeting the minister explained about the country`s master plan for the extension and acceleration of Indonesian economic development (MP3EI) and its linkage to the National Medium-term Development Plan (RPJMN).
She said RPJMN deals with public sectors such as education development and poverty alleviation while MP3EI deals more with private activities aimed at increasing the added value in Indonesia`s production activities, transforming the country from merely producing raw materials to becoming a manufacturer.
Armida said she hoped JICA could help encouraging Japanese industrialists to invest more in the country. She is also expecting a bigger role from JICA and Japan in general in encouraging Japanese private parties to invest in PPP projects.
Armida cited a coal-fired power plant project in Central Java as an example of a PPP project that involves Japanese investors.
Izumi Arai was accompanied by Indonesia JICA representative Kohara Motofumi, JICA`s director of Southeast Division, Hayakawa Yuho, and senior Indonesia JICA representative Ogawa Shigenori.
At the meeting Izumi Arai also expressed appreciation to the people of Indonesia and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for the attention they had given to Japan during the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.
Arai also said he had inspected rehabilitation efforts in areas affected by Merapi eruptions in Yogyakarta and had also attended a seminar on social security.
Regarding Merapi rehabilitation Arai said he was impressed by the progress already made.
Armida said that the bill on social security was still being discussed at the parliament.
She said Indonesia would learn from Japan regarding the handling of the impact of Merapi eruptions and development of a social security system.
Arai said Japan was satisfied with the progress made in the use of Japanese aid funds to reach more than the average so far of 14.83 percent.
(Uu.H-YH/A/HAJM/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
