REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NEW DELHI - Indonesia is optimistic that Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between ASEAN and India will encourage investment to enter Indonesia. And now Indonesia is identifying several infrastructural investments such as port, airport and smelter.

"The competition of trade will be tighter, but investment will pour in," said Minister of Industry MS Hidayat on Thursday in New Delhi, as reported by M Ikhsan Shiddieqy from Republika.

Leaders of ASEAN countries and India will soon sign the agreement of FTA. Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh said the agreement was a great progress.

The FTA covers service and investment, yet Ministers of Trade have agreed to implement free tariff on service and investment sectors.

Hidayat said India and Indonesia would discuss the list of investment. Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) has obtained three potential investors.

The FTA also allows Indian professionals to enter Indonesia. Indonesian Government plans to limit working sectors for the FTA. Ministry of Trade will discuss it further.

"Indonesia is ready to face FTA ASEAN-India as long as Indonesians still have bigger opportunity in several sectors," Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawan said.

He said that Indonesia was seeking for investment of technological transfer from India. He added that India had great human resources on technology.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika