"In 2012 the Japanese investment reached US$2.5 billion."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Japan is Indonesia`s most important partner because of its big investment in the country, chief of the country`s Investment Coordinating Board, Chatib Basri, said.

"The country`s relations with Japan are very important for investment. In 2012 the Japanese investment reached US$2.5 billion," he said here on Wednesday.

He said Indonesia however also hopes that Japan would also help in the country`s development and transformation to a higher level in the cooperation.

Referring to South Korea, South Africa and Brazil Chatib Basri said only South Korea has so far successfully become an industrialized country.

He said South Korea is successful because of innovations and so Indonesia must also be able to conduct capacity building. "Here I hope Japan could play a role with its cooperation and investment," he said.

Basri made the statement during a discussion on "Challenges and Investment Opportunities in Indonesia" held by PT Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk. at the BNI Building.

Other speakers at the event included BNI president director Gatot Suwondo, the governor of Japanese prefecture of Ehime, Tokihiro Nakamura, Ehime Prefecture`s Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Shozo Shiriasi, the chairman of the Indonesia-Japan Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sony B Harsono, the chairman of the Indonesia-Japan Society, Rahmat Gobel and the secretary of the Directorate General of International Industrial Cooperation, Dyah Winarni Pujiwati.

PT Bank Negara Indonesia has been cooperating with the Ehime Prefecture to bridge cooperation between the two countries` businessmen.

After the discussion the Ehime Prefecture delegation consisting of representatives from 14 companies was met with Indonesian businessmen from 35 companies who are also BNI customers and 20 businessmen from the Association of Indonesian Employers (Apindo) to explore potential businesses for concrete cooperation.

(Reporting by Dewanto Samodro/H-YH/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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