Investors' Trust in Indonesia High amid Omicron

TheIndonesia.id - Investors’ trust in Indonesia has remained strong despite the recent emergence of Omicron infections in the country, Investment Minister and head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Bahlil Lahadalia, has said.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the trust of foreign investors, particularly FDI (foreign direct investors), in Indonesia is very high,” he said in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Saturday, December 18, 2021.

The high level of trust among investors can be seen from their seriousness in realizing investment proposals after securing permits, he pointed out.

One of the investors, PT Lotte Chemical Indonesia, realized its investment proposal in Cilegon, Banten province, he informed.
The former chief of the Indonesian Young Businessmen Association (Hipmi) assured that no investor has suspended investment plans so far.

“None of the investment plans they have filed with us have been suspended,” he informed.

Lahadalia compared investment to the art of convincing and persuading people. With the communication and approaches made by the Investment Ministry’s team, there is no reason for investors to have doubts about investing in the country, he added.

“This is a matter of art to convince (someone), the art of persuading (someone). I am convinced that based on database, communication, and approach made by the communication team, Insya Allah (God Willing), there will be no doubt,” he remarked.

The minister said he was optimistic that the investment target of Rp1,200 trillion for 2022 would be achieved if COVID-19 cases are kept under control.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Health confirmed the first Omicron infection in Indonesia, with a janitor at the Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital contracting the virus. Later, the ministry detected two more cases, bringing the total Omicron case count as of Friday to three.

One of the two patients had recently returned from South America, while the other had returned from England. Currently, they are undergoing quarantine at the Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital.