Meeting The CEO From South Korea To Discuss Investment, Jokowi: If There Is A Problem, Tell The Minister Bahlil Or Luhut

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has guaranteed that he will solve investment problems quickly if the company's leaders (CEOs) from South Korea find obstacles in the field.

This was conveyed by President Jokowi in a meeting with CEOs of South Korean companies at the Lotte Hotel, Seoul, Thursday, July 28 morning.

"I didn't listen to the serious complaints that might happen on the pitch. But if there are problems, please convey them to the Investment Minister Bahlil or to the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Luhut Panjaitan), if there are problems. If the two of them are stuck, they can't solve it to me, whether it's related to permits, whether it's related to immigration and others," said President Jokowi as quoted from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat via Antara.

In the meeting, the CEOs gave their comments on the investment climate in Indonesia which was considered very conducive. However, Jokowi asked investors not to hesitate to convey problems in the field to the ministers or even to the President directly. Jokowi emphasized that currently, the Indonesian government continues to simplify and facilitate investment regulations with the presence of the omnibus law on the Job Creation Act.

"This is a structural reform carried out by Indonesia in order to provide maximum investment opportunities," he said.

To the CEOs, Jokowi expressed his gratitude for the investments that have been made. The President also views that South Korea's investment trend has increased significantly.

"Now South Korea is the sixth largest investor in Indonesia, this is a very good achievement and we hope that all of us South Korea can enter the top three, top 3 in Indonesia," he said.

Indonesia's economy, said Jokowi, is currently in good shape. Indonesia's economic growth in the first quarter of 2022 was 5.01 percent, then inflation was also under control at 4.3 percent.

"Indonesia's trade surplus in the first half of this year reached 24.8 billion US dollars, a very large jump from us. This is also due to the support from all of you, especially those who are export-oriented," he said.

Jokowi invites CEOs to collaborate in developing the economy. "Let's move forward with Indonesia and South Korea to build a better economy," he said.

After the meeting, Jokowi also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Investment/BKPM with PT Krakatau Steel and POSCO Holdings.

Present to accompany the President at the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Investment/Head of Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia for the Republic of Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto, and Secretary General of the Ministry of Investment Ikmal Lukman.

The CEOs in attendance were CEO of POSCO Kim Hag-dong, Vice Chairman/CEO of Lotte Chemical Kim Gyo-hyun, Vice Chairman/CEO of LG Corp. Brian Kwon, Chairman of CJ Group Sohn Kyung-Sik, Chairman of LS Group Koo. Ja-Eun, Vice Chairman/CEO of GS E&C Lim Byeong-yong, CEO of Samsung Electronics Roh Tae-moon, CEO of LX Holdings Roh Jin-seo, Chairman of Taekwang Park Joo-hwan, Chairman of KCC Glass Mong-ik Chung , and the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Indonesia Park Tae-sung.