INDONESIA HOPES FOR MORE GERMAN INVESTMENT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 19 (Antara) - German investment in Indonesia has remained miniscule over the past five years, accounting for only US$552 million, about one percent of its total investment overseas.          However, the visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to Berlin on Monday is expected to open new flow of German investment to Indonesia.          During the president's visit to Berlin, German and Indonesian businesses concluded a number of business agreements, including an agreement to invest in the smelter sector, worth US$800 million.          The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) had earlier predicted that the visit of the President will mark a new phase in German investment coming to Indonesia.          Kadin General Chairman Rosan Perkasa Roeslani revealed that on the first day of the president's visit to Berlin, a business-to-business MoU worth US$875 million was to be signed between Indonesian and German businesses.

RI PRESIDENT CONCLUDES WORKING VISIT IN GERMANY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 6 (Antara) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who arrived on Sunday for a three-day working visit in Germany concluded his tour of the European nation on Wednesday after fostering bilateral cooperation in various fields.          President Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono's entourage during the German tour included Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, deputy defense minister Sjafrie Syamsuddin, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, Trade Minister Gita Wiryawan and other government officials.          In his three-day working visit, the president among others met with German President Joachim Gauck, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former German president Horst Kohler, chief executive officers of major German companies and other noted German businessmen.          President Yudhoyono, after a meeting  with German Head of State Joachim Gauck said that both sides agreed to continue cooperation, praising relations between the two countries.         "We are glad with the present state of our relations," President Yudhoyono said at Hotel Adlon Kempinski after the meeting.