VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The US-ASEAN Business Council and President Joko Widodo discussed several opportunities to increase US investment in the Southeast Asian region, including Indonesia.

"Our mission is to facilitate the United States to increase investment in Southeast Asia, mainly Indonesia," the council`s president, Alexander C. Feldman, stated after attending the meeting at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Tuesday. The council will continue to seek available investment opportunities from the United States in Indonesia, Feldman noted.

Following the discussion, Feldman lauded the efforts of the Indonesian government, whose ease of doing business ranking issued by the World Bank and other rating agencies, had improved. The chief also pointed out that the local regulation and limited information are still posing a challenge for investors. However, Feldman admitted that the regulations were formulated to protect the interests of local businessmen in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita remarked that some strategies to attract more investors to the country were also discussed during the meeting. 

"Our discussions were fruitful. They (the council) have expressed commitment to continue working with the (Indonesian) government," Lukita noted.

The minister stated that the president had shared some updates on Indonesia`s economic reforms and deregulation programs to boost investment.
Lukita emphasized that the council had confirmed that the US investors harbored a positive view of Indonesia.

The US-ASEAN Business Council will organize a three-day, 13-15 March, meeting that will bring together some 41 US companies and stakeholders in Indonesia. During the event the organizer will facilitate a bilateral meeting between the Indonesian government and some leaders of foreign companies. The two parties will share some updates on the country`s economy as well as opportunities to establish partnership in trade and investment. (antara ) 

The Indonesian Ministry of Trade has confiscated 5 tons of imported garlic seeds sold at Pasar Induk Kramat Jati Main Market, East Jakarta. The ministry's Director of Trade Compliance Veri Anggrijono explained, garlic seeds is prohibited to be traded in the market and must be planted. To the media on Monday, March 12, 2018 in North Jakarta he explained, he has withdrawn the garlic seeds of mandatory planting program from the market. From the investigation results, the importer has got license to import 300 tons of garlic seeds from the Ministry of Agriculture. Currently, the Ministry of Trade is looking into and rechecking the 8 containers of garlic seeds.

“We would like to convey that if the importer is given the import permit for seeds, it must be planted, not to sell it to the market. Because we want to be garlic self-sufficient. If the seeds are also sold at the market, whereas we know the minister has just given permission for import,” Veri said.

Veri Anggrijono further explained the government has issued a policy to give import facility through the shift of supervision from border to post-border or outside customs area. Therefore, Veri said his side will not compromise the importers who break the rules. The garlic seeds are imported from China and enter Indonesia through Tanjung Priok port. Physically, the garlic and garlic seeds do not have significant difference, but on the packaging there is information saying that it is seed. Although the garlic seeds found at Kramat Jati market are garlic for consumption, Veri stated that it still breaks import regulations. The garlic seeds with the January 2018 production label were imported before garlic import permit was issued by the Ministry of Agriculture at the end of February 2018. (VOI/SEKAR/AHM)