Indonesia-Japan Improve Investments
Friday, 01 December, 2006 | 15:19 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Indonesia and Japan can be a momentum for improvement of the domestic investment climate. The improvement includes the legal system, bureaucracy and realization of various investment policy packages that have been promised. “If there are no improvements, Indonesia can't take advantage of the tariff decrease in Japan,” said Executive Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Hadi Soesastro, yesterday (30/11).

According to Hadi, the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) must soon complete the discussion of the Investment Bill. “Because Japanese investors await the bill to be passed,” he said.

Head of Indonesia's negotiation team Soemadi Brotodiningrat regards that this EPA cooperation can be an ideal model of Indonesia's cooperation with other countries. This is because the cooperation equalizes the countries' bargaining positions. “Because usually trade cooperation only contains market expansion commitment. In EPA, we ask Japan to help Indonesia's capacity building so that the output products can meet standards and enter Japan's market,” he said.

RR ARIYANI