Keidanren hails government?s decision to resume delayed projects

Representatives of Japanese chambers of commerce Keidanren have positively welcome the decision of President Megawati Sukarnoputri to resume four large scale projects which received financing from Japan such as Paiton and Tanjung Jati power plants.

?The four projects will not only benefit Japanese investors but also Indonesian companies. The Paiton power plant, for example, could help solve the shortage of power supply in the country,? Takashi Imai, a senior Keidanren official, said.

Imai was in Indonesia to lead the organization?s special mission to monitor the Japanese projects in Indonesia.

Imai said that Indonesia remains as one of attractive destination for Japanese overseas investments. With the high growth of its domestic consumption, Indonesia is certainly a good place for business activities, although other Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand continued to improve their investment climate, he added.

Paiton and Tanjung Jati power projects were suspended in early 1998 as part of the government?s retrenchment program to cope the impact of the country?s worst ever-financial crisis. (*)