"Rising investment particularly in the infrastructure sector is key to facing AEC by 2015."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday called for synergy between the government and business world to face the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 by improving industrial competitiveness.
"We still have three years left to enter AEC. All ASEAN member states must be prepared for economic challenges by establishing cooperation between the business world and the government. We need to build adequate infrastructures so we will not lag behind other ASEAN member states," the President said during a limited cabinet meeting at the Industry Ministry here.
He said the country particularly regions was in dire need of investment to improve the competitive edge of domestic industries in the face of AEC.
"There need to be education to enhance cooperation among regions to ensure that investment in the regions is good. In addition, regional governments are expected to resolve the question of licensing and find plots of land for the development of manufacturing industry as soon as possible," he said.
The President noted that many investors still complained about poor infrastructures.
"We should like to admit that domestic infrastructures are still poor. The government is inviting investors to jointly build infrastructures. Therefore, we need joint technology and research and development centers to develop manufacturing industry," he said.
Fiscal incentives were needed to attract more foreign investors, he said.
"There must be good incentives so investors are willing to invest in Indonesia. Rising investment particularly in the infrastructure sector is key to facing AEC by 2015," he said.
(T.KR-IAZ/S012/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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