Luhut Calls Solar Panel Investment Rp62.9 Trillion Entering Kaltara

Panel Surya (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - Investment in solar panels or photovoltaic glasses worth US$3.5-4 billion or around Rp55-Rp62.9 trillion into North Kalimantan (Kaltara).

"It will enter photovoltaic glass in North Kalimantan, it will invest 3.5-4 billion US dollars," said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan quoting Antara.

Luhut said that the investment commitment was successfully obtained by the Deputy for Investment and Mining Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, Septian Hario Seto, on his official trip to China.

He explained that Seto met with one of the companies that produces the world's largest solar panel raw materials on its official trip to Shanghai, China.

In addition to finalizing his commitment with solar panel companies, Luhut revealed that Seto's official trip also managed to obtain investment commitments from textile companies after leaving for Ningbo, China.

"They (the textile company) suddenly said, 'We want to invest in Indonesia'," he said.

Luhut likens the textile company to Foxconn to Apple, where Foxconn is a company that produces various electronic components and circuit boards. The textile companies, he said, were 'Foxconn' for Nike, Adidas, Puma, to Uniqlo.

According to Luhut, these two investments will have a positive impact on employment in Indonesia.

In the current state of China, Luhut continued, they still see Indonesia as an option for investment.

"I think it's very interesting. So, if someone said yesterday we were reckless, go see first, then talk," said Luhut.

In addition to the two investments, Luhut also said that the electric car manufacturer from China, BYD, will lay the first stone or groundbreaking in July.

BYD officially entered the Indonesian market after introducing three series of its electric cars in Jakarta in the middle of last month. The company has also announced prices for each series ranging from IDR 425 million to IDR 719 million. The company is also committed to building local factories in Indonesia.

BYD is a world-class electric vehicle giant from China that over the past year managed to sell more than 3 million units, the world's highest record for sales of new energy vehicles (NEV).