Indonesia to welcome investors committed to natural preservation

Jakarta, January 6 (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo laid emphasis that Indonesia welcomes credible investors, who are committed to boosting public welfare and preserving nature. Widodo delivered the statement at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, as quoted from a video seen here on Thursday. The president stressed that the government will always improve the management of natural resources. Moreover, Widodo spoke of conducting a meticulous evaluation of the permits granted to the mining and forestry industry as well as permits to use the state's soil. Moreover, the president affirmed that his administration will revoke all business permits that were taken for granted, not productive, was transferred to other parties, and not in accordance with the initial designations and regulations. As of Thursday, the government had revoked 2,078 permits for mineral and coal mining companies, as they had never submitted a work plan. The government revoked 192 forestry sector permits covering an area of 3,126,439 hectares, as they were not actively used. In addition, the permit owner did not propose a work plan, and the proposed land was abandoned. They also revoked the land use rights for an area of 34,448 hectares. "A total of 25,128 hectares belong to 12 legal entities, while the remaining 9,320 hectares are part of the abandoned land use rights belonging to 24 legal entities," he elaborated. Those permits were revoked for being inactive, not having any work plan, or being neglected. The president noted that the abandonment of these permits had resulted in the sabotage of natural resources, thereby hindering the betterment of the people's welfare. Widodo remarked that revamping and controlling these business permits was an integral part of the efforts to improve governance over mining, forestry, and other permits. The president was seen along with Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif, Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar, and Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia during the video announcement.