"The future of Southeast Asia is in economic relations. It makes sense if we are focusing more on business relations especially before the implementation of ASEAN Economic Community in 2015," Ambassador Zahrain said.
According to him the goal to boost trade relations is in line with the commitment made by leaders of the two countries earlier to achieving bilateral trade worth up to US$30 billion by 2015. In terms of investment, Ambassador Zahrain called on more Indonesian investors to invest in various sectors in Malaysia such as property, manufacture and technology.
Earlier Malaysias Bernama news agency reported Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Herman Prayitno was optimistic about the positive trend of trade and investment relation between Indonesia and Malaysia.
"Although the world economy has not fully recovered, both countries are expected to meet the target of US$30 billion in trade volume," Ambassador Herman said adding that Malaysia was the second biggest Asean investor in Indonesia with a majority of its investments in the telecommunication, banking, plantation, hotel, restaurant and oil and gas sectors.
As Indonesia was a huge country with a vast population, he said there were numerous projects for Malaysians to invest in. He pointed out that Indonesias Coordinating Board for Investment had announced that investment realisation from Malaysia to Indonesia in 2012 stood at US$500 million (237 projects) while in the third quarter of 2013, it stood at US$518 million (424 projects).
(T.A051/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Reporter: By Amie Fenia Arimbi
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
