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nvestors from China and the US are exploring investment possibilities in South Sumatra following recent business meetings hosted by the provincial administration.

The South Sumatra administration held a meeting in Palembang on Nov. 19 attended by representatives of US companies. The companies included container and shipping company American President Lines, consumer goods firm General Atlantic, chemical producer DuPont, energy company General Electric, engineering and construction firm Black & Veatch, farming firm Sandal Trade and Consulting and infrastructure developer ARI.

US embassy representative Michael Robert said that investment in coal mining would be the most accessible sector for American companies to invest in. The province has about 22.24 billion tons of coal reserves according to the latest estimates.

Sandal Trade and Consulting expressed its interests in the coconut milk industry, said South Sumatra plantations office secretary Anung Riyanta, He added that the company was still assessing the investment possibilities and would return in January to discuss the matter further.

Two days after meeting with US firms, the administration held another business presentation to several Chinese companies. They included construction company Shanghai Corporation, electric company Dongfang Electric Corporation, farming firm Gifore Group, hydropower company Gezhouba Group, mineral company Bosau Minerals Group, nickel miner Ningxia Hengshun Smelter, palm oil firm Julong, Huangbo and petrochemical firm Rongsheng Group.

While Dongfang Electric Corporation expressed its interests in power plants, Rongsheng Group said it was anticipating its investing in petrochemicals.

Shanghai Corporation Indonesia chief representative Chen He said the firm planned on constructing toll roads in South Sumatra. After considering the opportunities, the road works were the most feasible for the firm, he said.

Sumatra is currently preparing the development of the Trans-Sumatra toll road project, stretching from Aceh to Lampung. It will commence with the construction of a 22-kilometer stretch from Palembang to Indralaya in South Sumatra in March next year.

South Sumatra development agency head Yohanes H. Toruan said that so far, infrastructure issues were often obstacles to potential investors.

“We hope future investors will begin with infrastructure development first,” he added.