REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BUSAN -- President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Wednesday that the government should be the one to determine locations of investment projects, not investors, to ensure equal distribution of investment projects in regions.
"I just told them that it should be us (the government) and not them (investors) who should determine where an investment project should be established. This is to ensure that projects are distributed fairly among regions and are not centered in Java," he stated after meeting with a number of South Korean business leaders.
President Jokowi added that the government's view received positive responses and that many businessmen had expressed interest in investing in the country in petrochemical industries, electricity plants, and other sectors.
"It seems that the investment atmosphere and the perception that we are seeking to build have been understood by the investors here, especially the big ones," he remarked.
At the meeting, Jokowi was flanked by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Sofyan Djalil, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea John A. Prasetyo, investment official Himawan H. Djojokusumo, and an economic ministry official, Luky Eko Wuryanto.
The South Korean investors who attended the meeting were CEO of Posco Kwon Ohjoon, flanked by Senior Deputy President Chang In Hwan, President of Daewo Logistics AN Yongnam, Chairman of Lotte Group Dong Bin Shin, CEO and President of Lotte Mart Byung Yong Noh, CEO of Lotte Chemical Soo Young Huh, Chairman of BK Group Joung In Park, and Managing Director of BK Energy Young Saeng Kim.
President Jokowi is visiting South Korea from December 10 to 12 to attend an ASEAN-South Korea relations commemoration event and for a number of other agendas.