Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan emphasized that investment must continue even though Indonesia has now entered a political year and will hold general elections next year.
Luhut stated that elections should not be an obstacle to the entry of foreign capital into Indonesia.
“Just let the election (take place), but investment must not stop just because of the election,” said Luhut, who was present with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, to journalists after attending the Indonesia-United Arab Emirates (UAE) Business Forum in Jakarta, Thursday.
Presidential candidate Prabowo is still actively promoting and encouraging investment into Indonesia, said Luhut.
Luhut and Prabowo attended the Indonesia-UAE Business Forum and met with delegates from the Gulf country to discuss potential investment cooperation between the two countries.
The forum was held several weeks after last July Indonesia agreed to a free trade agreement through the Indonesia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership (IUAE-CEPA).
Luhut said that Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates had agreed to form a task force to accelerate the realization of investment by the two countries in eight areas of cooperation.
The eight areas are the construction of refineries, accelerating the development of renewable energy such as geothermal power plants, hydropower and solar panels, and the development of the National Capital City (IKN) of the archipelago.
Then, construction of ports and aircraft maintenance facilities, defense and satellite cooperation, mangrove development programs to overcome climate change, collaboration on critical mineral downstreaming, and cooperation on food and energy security.
“I don’t think there is a problem (about investment) even though we are going to have an election now. “Pak Prabowo as a candidate (presidential candidate) is also involved in investment promotion,” said Luhut. (mhn/bbs)
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