European Investors Interested in Infrastructure Projects: Minister

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - State-owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Rini M Soemarno said that a number of European investors had expressed interest in Indonesia's infrastructure development such as toll road, seaports, airports and power plant development projects.

"Last week I visited Europe and met with investors in Germany, the Netherlands and Britain. They generally are interested in Indonesia's infrastructure projects," the minister said during a ceremony held to bid farewell to travelers who took part in a Joint Eid Trip program here on Sunday.

She said that in their meetings they asked about what became priority in Indonesian development programs.

"We told them that we were developing power projects, toll roads and ports. They were interested. British investors for example were interested in the financing sector by cooperating with British Export and Import Bank while German investors were ready to cooperate with the KFW.

Rini said that some of the investors had already made investment in Indonesia such as Siemens which produced turbine component in Cilegon.

"They hoped they can develop it further but we will be happy if they produce the turbines in Indonesia at least 20 - 50 megawatts so that our 35,000 power program would use more local products," she said.

With the Dutch investors, Rini claimed to have met with the operator of Rotterdam Port. "There is a signal that they were ready to cooperate with Indonesian port operator company PT Pelindo III in the development of Kuala Tanjung port," she said.

However, Rini did not reveal the value of the financing commitment the European investors could invest in Indonesia. (WDY)