Regencies invite Chinese investors, sign MoU

In search of business opportunities with China, regency administrations in Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday with the Indonesia-China Entrepreneurs and Business Cooperation Agency.

Indonesian Regency Administrations Association (Apkasi) chairman Hadi Suyono said the agreement would help foster trade and investment in regencies and thus boost regional economic growth.

“The slow investment growth in some parts of the country has partly been caused by a shortage of information among investors on the regions' economic potential,” Hadi said.

“The information that has reached investors has been that they would face complicated bureaucratic procedures here.”

The MoU does not specify in which fields the business partnership will bind regencies and Chinese investors.

Agency chairman Andy Asmara said the Chinese investors had expressed interest in mining, fisheries and tourism sectors.

“There will be another signing [of an agreement] after the regencies and investors explore potential investment areas,” he said.

Apkasi executive director Nasrudin expects 100 regencies to sign agreements with investors under the MoU. (adh)