REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh is making every effort to catch up on development for the prosperity of its people.

The strategy the Aceh provincial administration is using to do that is inviting domestic and overseas investors to invest in the province, according to Governor Zaini Abdullah.

"We will continue to work hard to convince investors that Aceh province is suitable for investment now and in the future," he said at a technical meeting of the local marine affairs and fisheries department in Banda Aceh earlier this month.

He noted that the province remains attractive for investment because it has good financial prospects in fisheries, tourism and agriculture.

With extensive rubber, cocoa, coffee and palm oil plantations, as well as shrimp farms and natural beauty, the province has several investment opportunities.

The provincial administration is working to increase the pace of investments, which, it hopes, will improve the development of the local economy.

"We keep telling both local and foreign investors that Aceh is the right place to invest for fisheries, agriculture and industry," the governor said.

Abdullah also revealed that he will visit Australia in the near future to discuss various investment opportunities in his province with Australian investors.

"We have done the same in Thailand, Germany and other European countries, and we will do so in Australia," he added.

The governor, however, acknowledged that there were certain parties who disturbed investors and prevented them from investing in the province.

"But we have to overcome this problem together, so that investors can feel safe and comfortable," he said.

According to Governor Zaini Abdullah, the economic growth rate in Aceh in the past few years has been improving, although efforts to improve the standard of living for local residents would still be a long process.

"While it takes a long time to improve people's welfare, the economic growth rate over the past few years has improved," the governor said.

He noted that economic growth of the province reached 5.18 percent in 2011 and climbed to 5.42 percent in 2012. However, it slipped in the second quarter of 2013 to 4.24 percent.

The governor emphasized that there are four fundamental issues hampering economic development in the province that need to be addressed urgently.

The first issue, according to him, is the need for economic empowerment to fulfil the desires of the lower income community. The second issue is the need to provide economic facilities and infrastructure to develop the marine sector.

The third issue is the need for comprehensive measures to handle poverty and unemployment, while the fourth is the need to improve access for small- and medium-sized businesses.

"Of the four issues, the problems of small- and medium-sized businesses require the most attention because they absorb more people," noted Governor Zaini Abdullah.

Recently, Aceh Vice Governor Muzakir Manaf claimed that due to improvements in the peace and security situation, several investors had started investing in the province, while others were seeking to invest new funds.

"In less than one-and-a-half years, many investors have invested in Aceh, Indonesia's westernmost province," Muzakir Manaf said.

According to him, an investor from France is planning a hydro-electric power plant (PLTA) in Aceh Barat district and a sea transportation facility at the Krueng Geukueh seaport in North Aceh district.

"It is our vision and mission that, in the next three years, all residents of Aceh will be able enjoy improvements in their financial welfare. Therefore, we need to maintain peace and security together to ensure investments continue in the province," he added.

Muzakir pointed out that West Aceh district is one of the areas in the province that could become a top investment destination in the future because it has extensive rubber plantation areas and other high quality raw materials.

He said the security situation, electricity deficit and complicated management of business licenses will no longer be problems for investors.

According to Aceh Besar district government spokesman Jailani Ahmad, a stable security situation in the province could ease the way for investors to fund various sectors.

"Economic progress is inseparable from the support of all public elements to maintain peace and security here," Jailani said in Banda Aceh recently.

He noted that Aceh Besar district has more than enough economic opportunities to ensure the future welfare of local residents.

To ensure a flow of investments into the province, the chairman of the Aceh Barat branch of the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI), T Novian Nukman, urged the local government to ensure an adequate supply of human resources.

"With the presence of investors in Aceh, there is a big opportunity to develop the province and, therefore, the local government should make every effort to ensure the adequate supply of human resources," Nukman said in Banda Aceh earlier.

He noted that the presence of investors would provide job opportunities for the youth.

The head of the provincial communications service, Said Rasul, said the province was waiting to receive a license from the finance minister to operate the new Krueng Geukueh port, which is expected to handle exports and imports.

He noted that by the end of 2013, the port would operate as an international port, which would quicken the pace of Aceh's economic development.

"We hope the private sector will play a greater role in the development of the port in future," he added.

Rasul said the government would initiate various infrastructure projects to support the operation of the port, which will improve exports of various commodities from Aceh. (Otniel Tamindael)

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