REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia Investment Coordination Board (BKPM) promoted investment opportunities among 100 Canadian investors at Indonesia Business Forum in Montreal, Canada.
"The investment roadshow is intended to disseminate information regarding reforms ushered in investment related services," BKPM chief Franky Sibarani said in a press statement received here on Thursday.
The BKPM also held one-on-one meetings with a number of leading Canadian companies in energy, telecommunication and information technology sectors.
Sibarani stated that the visit was aimed to map the country's interest in investing in Indonesia.
He informed that some Canadian companies expressed interest in investing through public private partnership scheme.
"We have facilitated making investment by simplifying many procedures with the ushering in of a one-stop integrated service (PTSP), the three-hour licensing service, and direct construction investment incentive (KLIK). Now, the team will communicate with the companies to ensure they actually invest as per their commitment," the minister elaborated.
According to the Indonesian embassy, , the BKPM's data showed that the Canadian investment in Indonesia had reached US$148 million in 2010; US$2.2 million in 2011; US$8.5 million in 2012; US$124 million in 2013 and US$133 million as of Q3 2014.
The realization of Canadian investment in Q3 2014 resulted in 24 projects, namely mining (8); industry (2); construction (1); transportation, warehouse and telecommunications (1); housing, industrial and office areas (1); and other services (1). The mining sector has the largest share of the investment, valued at almost US$130 million.
Meanwhile, Statistics Canada's data showed that Canadian investment in Indonesia has reached CAD3.203 billion. In 2013, Indonesia ranked at number 25 in the list of destination countries for Canadian investment abroad, with a 0.4 percent share. Indonesia is also the main destination country for Canadian investment in Southeast Asia.
Canadian companies that have operations in Indonesia included Talisman Energy, Sherritt, Manulife Financial and Sunlife Financial.
Total trade between Indonesia and Canada grew tremendously between 2009 - 2013 with an average increase of almost 18 percent. Total bilateral trade between January-October 2014 reached US$2.2 billion, 8.42 percent less than during the same period in 2013.
Likewise, Indonesia's export between 2009-2013 showed an average increase of 9.70 percent. Between January-October 2014, Indonesian exports to Canada reached US$638.0 million, a slight decrease of 3.94 percent from the same period in 2013.
Indonesia's imports from Canada between 2009-2013 increased at an average of 21.63 percent. Indonesia's imports from Canada in January-October 2014 were registered at almost US$1.6 billion, 10.12 percent less than during the same period in 2013.
Indonesia mainly exports rubber products, cocoa, coffee, tires, toys, garments, footwear and electronic appliances to Canada.
Its imports from Canada include potassium chloride, wheat, chemicals, machinery, potatoes and food products, according to the Indonesian embassy.