REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATAM -- Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the free trade area of Batam fell to US$151.57 million in the first nine months of the year from US$155.2 million in the same period last year.

The FDI in the January-September period in 2014 was quite high compared with in the previous year.

"It was only slightly below the all time peak of 2013, Investment and Promotion Director of BP Batam Purnomo Andi Antono said here on Monday (20/10).

In 2013 and 2014, there were 46 foreign companies implemented their projects , Purnomo said.

"There are many companies expressing interest in investment but they chose to wait until they are convinced of investment security in the country," he said.

Based on data from BP Batam, FDI was valued at US$196.86 million in 2009 , down to US$76.4 million in 2010 , before rising again to US$103.1 million in 2011.

In 2012, implementation fell again in value to 90.9 million, but up to a peak of US$155.2 million in 2013.

"We hope that the condition in Batam is conducive in the remaining months of the year," Purnomo said.

He said he also hope that there would be no more violent demonstration demanding pay hike, adding investors are especially sensitive to instability.

Under the new government of Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla, the condition is expected to be conducive for investment, he said.

In addition to the new investments, there were investment of US$117 million for expansion by 18 companies, he said.

Meanwhile BP Batam is expanding loading and unloading facility at the Batusmpar port for container cargoes, a BP Batam spokesman Dwi Djoko Wiwoho said.

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