"Indonesias economic growth target for 2015 has been set at 5.7 percent, and it will improve further until it reaches above seven percent," Jokowi said while addressing some 1,200 Japanese businessmen at Indonesia Business Forum here Tuesday.
While Japan has so far been the second largest investor in Indonesia, the President expressed optimism that it will climb to the top of the list of foreign investors in Indonesia.
"We will develop economic zones in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua. We dont want to concentrate only on Java Island but also on the eastern part of the country. I hope Japanese businessmen will utilize these opportunities," he noted.
The construction of economic zones outside Java Island and a trans-Sumatra toll road are our first priorities. Our second priority is the construction of a toll road in Kalimantan, and the third priority is a toll road in Papua, which is still in the study phase.
This year, railway lines will be built in Sumatra and later in Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua to facilitate goods transportation across Indonesia.
He also informed Japanese businessmen that Indonesia will build 24 seaports and deep-sea ports using the State Budget funds and private sector funding.
Other main projects in the pipeline include sea tolls, the development of the fisheries industry, airports, and power plants.
The President invited Japanese investors to invest in Indonesia.
At the forum, President Jokowi was accompanied by, among others, Coordinating Minister Sofyan Djalil, State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel, Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto, Chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board Franky Sibarani, and Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Suryo Bambang Sulisto.
Japanese businessmen at the forum constituted, among others, representatives from Hitachi, Daihatsu Motor Corp, IHI Corp, Inpex, Itochu, J-Power, JX Nippon Oil and Energy, Marubeni, Nikkei Inc, Sumitomo Corp, Ajinomoto, Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ, Honda, JFE Steel, J-Trust, Mitsubishi Corp, NEC, Panasonic Corp, SMBC, and Sojitz.
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