Indian Investors Offered Infrastructure Projects

Jakarta, MINA – Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has offered Indian investors a number of infrastructure projects from port, airport and railway projects in Indonesia.

Foreign investors are encouraged to be involved in the construction of ports, and airports, especially those having experience in the sector, Budi said addressing an India-Indonesia Infrastructure Forum (IIIF) here on Monday.

“I thinks good relations between Indonesia and India could be deepened, expanded in a concrete activity especially in airport and port development.It is also not impossible in railway development projects,” he said.

He said large scale project offered to Indian investor is the Kualanamu airport of Medan and Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman airport of Balikpapan and medium scale projects such as Radin Inten II airport of Lampung, Juwata airport of Tarakan and Komodo airport of Labuan Bajo.

Seaport projects offered to Indian investors include the Kuala Tanjung port of North Sumatra and Bitung port of North Sulawesi.

“Other projects include small ones in Central Indonesia,” he said.

The former chief executive of state-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura I said offering infrastructure operation such as airport and seaports operations to foreign investors is not the same as selling assets to foreign investors.

“It is only an offer of limited concession for a certain period,” he said.

Limited concession for management of infrastructure is offered on a number of considerations such as the need for fund and technology, he added.

“We also want foreign investors collaboration to win positive sentiment from a country. India is quite influential to give positive sentiment,” he said.

In addition, Indonesia is also expected to be able to increase competitiveness in offering investment projects.

“Therefore, we want to promote investment service to make them firmer, able to compete well,” he said. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)