President Jokowi Invites UAE Businessmen to Undertake Infrastructure Projects in Indonesia

President Jokowi Invites UAE Businessmen to Undertake Infrastructure Projects in Indonesia

During a business meeting with businessmen from the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Sunday (13/9), President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo invited investors from the Middle East, especially from the United Arab Emirates, to be involved in the investment of a number of projects in Indonesia.

In his remarks, President Jokowi said that his administration was aware that Indonesia’s infrastructures are still left behind; thus, he said that the Government decided to build infrastructures and develop the existing ones for the sake of medium and long-term development.

“There are a number of national infrastructure projects that can be undertaken by businessmen from many countries,” the President said, adding that Indonesia has a limited state budget to finance all infrastructure projects that will be built.

President Jokowi went on to say that Indonesia is currently focused on developing infrastructures, including 24 new seaports, 15 new airports, toll roads stretching 1,000 KM, inter-provincial roads stretching 2,600 kilometer, 49 new dams and new power plants with the capacity of 35,000 MW, and will also develop mass transportation system in 23 major cities.

“By developing those projects, Indonesia will become an industrial country based on manufacturing,” the President said.

Also attending the meeting were Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of Trade Thomas Lembong, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Head of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Sofyan Djalil, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and Presidential Special Envoy to the Middle East Alwi Shihab. (ES/Humas) (EP/YM-Naster/Sy)