REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATAM -- Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Donald Bobiash is exploring investment opportunities in Batam, Riau Islands, after the government revised the city's status as a Free Trade and Port Area and Special Economic Zone.
"We want to know more about Batam's economic development, especially with regard to its industrial area," Bobiash stated after a meeting with Mayor of Batam Muhammad Rudi here on Friday.
Currently, Indonesia has become a promising area for Canadian entrepreneurs. Several Canadian products, such as wheat and Blackberry, were exported to Indonesia.
Canadian companies were also keen to invest in the oil and gas and mining sectors.
"We are also interested in establishing cooperation with the ASEAN, and Batam has a strategic location in this regard," he noted.
On the occasion, Ambassador Bobiash questioned the protection offered to foreign workers employed in the city.
The ambassador emphasized that Jakarta's incident, wherein foreign workers were denied admission, should not recur in Batam.
In response to this, Mayor Rudi explained that the central city was now improving itself in line with the president's instructions.
"There will be a Special Economic Zone. Investors will be provided facilities, such as offering ease to submit their tax returns. The discussion had begun in March, and all rules are expected to be finalized in September," Rudi revealed.
Mayor Rudi ensured that the new rules will not change anything that had existed until now but will offer greater convenience to the investors.
"As the government, we are ready to support any investor. Do not harbor concerns for Canadians to invest in here, we will support them," he emphasized.
Rudi stated that some seven thousand foreign workers were employed in the city, and there were no significant problems.
According to the rules, he pointed out that there were nine skill types for workers to be allowed to enter and work in Indonesia.
"In the future, if there is a problem, (you) could contact us directly. We will bridge it. We will immediately intervene. Something that has been set cannot be banned," he remarked.
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