West Nusa Tenggara courts foreign investment

The governor of Indonesian province West Nusa Tenggara Harun Al Rasyid has promised two foreign oil refinery companies to simplify the process for obtaining permits to invest in the province.

He said the managements of the two foreign companies, one from the Middle East and the other from Europe, have met with him and he promised them a simplified process for the issuance of their operation permits.

"We welcome foreign investment here," Harun told reporters without naming the two companies.

However, he admitted that he had not been informed about the amount of oil to be tapped by the companies, or the amount of funds to be invested.

"We have not been informed about the details of oil reserves in Alas in Sumbawa district and another in North Lombok. The important thing is to encourage them first," he said.

According to the governor, the companies discovered the oil reserves with satellite scanning.

"Capitalizing on the data produced by satellite scanning, the two companies have submitted their applications (for permits) to the central government," Harun said.

"As a follow-up, the provincial government is offring the simplified process for the issuance of the operation permits," he said.

Harun maintained that the operation of the foreign oil companies would have a positive impact on the provincial government, particularly in anticipation of regional autonomy, which starts in January.

"If the two companies are able to realize their investment soon, people would enjoy many benefits, especially in terms of employment," he noted.

He explained that an increase in the province's revenues from the oil and other mining sectors would enhance its implementation of regional autonomy.

"This province's financial dependence to the central government could be reduced due to the contribution of income from the oil and other mining sectors," the governor said. (*)