After deputing two delegations to Visakhapatnam in less than a year, Indonesia has decided to send another team for participation in the Partnership Summit being organised here by the CII in collaboration with Ministry of Commerce and AP Government, according to Vizagapatam Chamber of Commerce & Industry secretary S.P. Ravindra.
A team, led by Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia Saut Siringoringo, held several rounds of discussions with the officials and representatives of VCCI and AP Chamber of Commerce and Industries’ Federation to discuss investment opportunities in areas like IT, basic metal industries, oil refinery, basic organic chemicals, machinery, renewable resources and communication devices.
“The talks with the Indonesian team will lead to some big investments in smart city and other projects,” Mr. Ravindra told The Hindu .
Federation Director M.V. Narayana Rao said despite ancient relationship, the trade volume at present between India and Indonesia was not much. Indian investment in Indonesia between 2010 and 2015 (till September) is put at $623.2 million. Indonesia’s investment in India between April 200 and June 2015 amounts to $623.09 million.
The revival of direct flight Garuda will be a big boon to improve the ties.
Mr. Siringoringo in an e-mail interview to The Hindu said that Indonesia and India should work together to bridge the knowledge gap about investing in each other’s countries by facilitating more frequent exchanges of delegations.
Mr. Siringoringo said smart cities would emerge as engines of growth. So far, he said, there were 20 regions which were implementing smart city concept. “Several regions including Bandung, Bogor, Banyuwangi, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Aceh and Balikpapan are implementing smart city projects. Each region has different take on developing its own smart city depending on the mayor or regent.”
He said Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) focuses on a more efficient and transparent ‘One Stop Investment Service’ through streamlining permits and license procedures across government levels as mandated by Presidential Regulation No. 97/2014.