| Jakarta, Aug 18 (ANTARA) - Investments made by Japan, the biggest investor so far in Indonesia, have been declining over the past few years but the planned visit to Indonesia by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from August 19 to 21 has given rise to hope of a resurgence in Japanese economic activity in this country.
The large number of top business executives and journalists who are included in the prime minister's entourage is an indication that Tokyo and Jakarta are to start a new era in fostering economic cooperation and increasing Japanese investments.
According to Japanese Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia Satoru Satoh, the Japanese prime minister had three main purposes in his Indonesian visit.
"The main agenda of PM Abe's visit is to strengthen strategic cooperation between Indonesia and Japan, sign an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and discuss cooperation in the environment and energy fields," he said.
Abe's visit actually focuses on the signing of the EPA, a document which was drawn up and finalized last June in Tokyo by delegates of the two countries, and will be signed by the two heads of government here on Monday.
The EPA would be the first to be signed by Indonesia but the eighth for Japan. Japan has intensively developed EPAs to create a conducive atmosphere for economic growth in Asia with regard to global competition and to ensure its growth.
Under the EPA, it was expected that Indonesian exports to Japan and Japanese exports to Indonesia would in stages be freed from 90 percent duties and excise levies, Satoru Satoh said. The phased reduction of duties would be carried out over a period of 10 years as of the signing of the EPA, Satoh said.
The Economic Partnership Agreement between Indonesia and Japan, would also enable Indonesian semi-professional workers to enter Japan.
Japan is Indonesia's biggest trading partner, while Indonesia is Japan's biggest LNG supplier. Japan's investment in Indonesia from 1967 to 2005 reached 293 billion US dollars.
With the signing of the EPA, Indonesia had set itself the target of luring a flow of Japanese investment totaling US$140 billion to US$160 billion. Moreover, the Japanese premier would come accompanied by at least 150 top business executives.
A senior Japanese foreign ministry official said in Tokyo early this week it would be the largest business delegation joining a prime minister's overseas working visit as it included delegates from Toyota Motor Corp, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Mizuho Bank, JBIC, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, JETRO, Daiwa Securities.
Besides, Kawasaki Heavy Industry, Cannon Inc., Marubeni Corp., Sumitomo Life Insurance Co., Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Toshiba Corp., Hitachi, NEC, and Sony Corp. Other companies include Tokyo Electric Power Company Inc., LNG Japan Corp., Nissin, Fujitsu Ltd, Nippon Steel Corp., and Nippon Express Co. also sent representatives.
During Abe's visit, Japan and Indonesia will also sign a cooperation agreement on new projects in the energy sector, including development of the latest technology in the exploration of new energy sources, according to Satoru Satoh.
As Japan is now showing interest to increase its investment, Indonesia should take the opportunity to convince Japan of its favorable investment climate.
Japanese Director General for Media Relations Mitsuo Sakaba said in Tokyo that a good investment climate should be developed jointly by both countries. "There is a tight competition among Asian countries in attracting Japanese investment," he added.
That's why, Japan needed to make serious efforts to help Indonesia improve its investment climate. Indonesia, as a large country, had exceptional potentials that could attract investors, Sakaba said.
He suggested that Indonesia prepare and settle many matters relating to investment in such sectors as infrastructure, labor law and remove barriers that hamper export-import activities.
It may be recalled that Indonesia has issued a negative list of investment which had prompted the media and businesspeople in Japan to ask questions on investment prospects in Indonesia.
The negative list of investment (DNI) issued by the Indonesian government in July 2007, carries lines of business sectors in the country which are still open and those closed to local as well as foreign investment.
According to Chief Economic Minister Boediono, the new regulation provides certainty and transparency to businesspeople in investment in Indonesia, contributing to long-term economic growth, opening employment opportunities, and poverty eradication.
The three highly regulated investment sectors are transportation, broadcasting and energy.
As far as Indonesia was concerned, Abe's visit would mark the first economic cooperation under the EPA, and ushering to the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Japan next year.
During Abe's visit, which is to reciprocate Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to Japan in November 2006, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and its counterpart Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) will organize a Japanese and Indonesia business forum.
Sources in Tokyo said that other agenda of the Japanese PM's tour of Indonesia would also likely include environment, terrorism, natural disaster handlings, bird flue, transnational crime, education, transportation and tourism. (A014/A/HAJM/A/E002) (T.A014/A/A014/A/E002) 18-08-2007 01:14:15 |
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