China to invest in RI mineral industries, PM to visit next month

Minister of Industry MS Hidayat said that investors from China have expressed interests to build several industrial zones for the minerals sector in the country with total investment estimated at around US$20 billion, Bisnis Indonesia daily reported Tuesday.

Hidayat was quoted as saying that the industrial zones to house minerals processing industries will be among others located in Kalimantan and Sulawesi, where the mineral raw materials are located.

He said that the investment commitment is expected to be formalized during the upcoming visit of Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang on October 2. He said there will be a business forum the following day. ?There will be lots of agreements to be signed including G to G and B to B,? he said.

The government of Indonesia has decided to start banning the export of raw mineral ores in 2014, requiring them to be processed at home in a bid to generate greater value added. This will require huge investment to build the necessary smelters. (*)