President Jokowi Invites Dutch Businesspeople to Invest in Indonesia

President Jokowi delivers a speech at the Indonesia-the Netherlands Business Forum, in the Hague, on Friday (22/4) afternoon, local time

After conducting the blusukan (impromptu visits) to the Port of Rotterdam, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Friday (22/4) afternoon local time, attended the Indonesia – the Netherlands Business Forum held at the Grand Hotel Amrath Kurhaus, in the Hague, the Netherlands.

In his keynote speech at the forum, the President said that amidst global economic turbulence in which nearly all world capital markets showed a downturn and the crude oil market has been affected, Indonesia shows resilience with a surprising economic growth.

According to the President, Indonesia’s real Gross Domestic Product grew by around 5.03 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015. The economic growth, he added, could be achieved because Indonesia has two engines of economic growth: infrastructure development and investment.

“You may check it to the journalists in Indonesia, or to Ambassadors posted in Jakarta. I believe many people will be surprised by the current infrastructure development in Indonesia,” President Jokowi said.

Regarding investment, the President explained that the Government would continue to improve in order to shorten permit process and improve an ease of doing business. Therefore, the President invited all Dutch businesspeople to invest in Indonesia.

The President also said that the Netherlands is Indonesia’s oldest friend and the strongest supporters of Indonesia in the European Union. He also said that, according to a release of the Asian Development Bank, Indonesia has the highest attraction and interest of investment in the history.

As China’s economy experiences a period of transition, the President said, many companies have relocated their factories from China to other countries in Southeast Asia.

“Indonesia will also see advantages because Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia,” the President said.

The forum was concluded with the signing of four business agreements worth US$606 million.

The business agreements cover the Construction of a Solar Panel Plant in Surabaya; Potato Seed Industry Development to Increase Production and Supply of Potatoes in the Country and Improve Farmers’ Prosperity; the Construction of Pancasila Palmerah Bridge and Turbine Power in Larantuka, East Nusa Tenggara; and Human Resources Capacity Building in the maritime sector. (TKP/RAH) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)