Indonesia Invites Taiwan To Invest In Maritime Sector

JAKARTA, Sept 6 (Antara) - Indonesia has invited Taiwan to invest in maritime sectors in order to support the government's programs in making the country as the world's maritime axis. The Director of Agribusiness and Natural Resources Investment Planning at the Investment Coordinating Board, Hanung Harimba Rachman, here on Tuesday said the maritime sector has become one of the investment priorities which is expected to grow in the five years. "Maritime sector is one of the priority programs in our strategic plan throughout 2014-2019, which includes shipbuilding, fishery and cooler storage that you can get into," he said in a seminar on Prospects for Governance and Maritime Cooperation between Indonesia and Taiwan. In addition to maritime, other areas that also opened for Taiwan investors are infrastructure projects such as seaports and deep sea energy development. "In January 2016, the Indonesian government launched a policy on national strategic project acceleration in which 225 projects are opened for Taiwan investors under public-private partnership scheme," he said. Hanung added that Taiwan's investment is important for Indonesia which is heading towards a phase of industrialization. Taiwan has been known to have strong hight-technology industries. "Therefore, Taiwan is very important partner for Indonesia in building technology-based maritime sectors," he said. Meanwhile the Representative of Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) in Indonesia, Liang Jen Chang, welcomed the offer of cooperation in the maritime field. According to him, cooperation in the maritime field between Indonesia and Taiwan should be improved in line with global changes. "Taiwan and Indonesia already has a close relationship since many years ago. But now, the good relationship is no longer enough because time is changing, especially in the maritime sector," he said. Data obtained from the investment board shows that Taiwan is one of the largest investors in Indonesia. Throughout the first half of 2016, Taiwan has realized US$816 million of investment in Indonesia through paper industry and approximately US$400 million in metal industry.