In Singapore, Erick Thohir 'Sells' 3 Investment Sectors Through The LPI, What Are They?

BUMN Minister Erick Thohir (Photo via bumn.go.id)

JAKARTA - State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Minister, Erick Thohir, offers three areas for collaboration to authorities in Singapore. Starting from energy, tourism, and the financial sector offered through the newly formed Government Investment Management Institution (LPI).

"We hope that this cooperation offer can be considered and further discussed its implementation," said Erick in Singapore through a press statement quoted by VOI, Saturday, February 20.

To ensure this, the Minister of BUMN revealed that foreign investment managed by the Indonesian government will certainly be managed properly with promising returns.

"President Joko Widodo has formed and appointed professionals to handle Indonesia's sovereign wealth funds called INA. Many projects are prepared and are very prospective because they will provide good returns," he said.

In order to strengthen his sense of business optimism, the former president of the Inter Milan football club revealed the performance of the Indonesian government which continues to focus on efforts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have vaccinated all the medical personnel as many as 1.5 million people. In March, it is hoped that more Indonesians can undergo vaccinations," he said.

Erick added that the development of the Red-and-White vaccine, which is the work of the Nation's Sons and Daughters, has also shown encouraging results.

"The Eijkman Institute has received the seeds of the COVID-19 virus and will then be tested. Hopefully, by early next year, it can be mass-produced and this is important to anticipate the Covid-19 vaccination which must be done regularly," he explained.

In the next three years, BUMN is said to have 88 large projects or investments to be made. For this reason, Erick invites Singapore to work together to revive the economy.

"Singapore can get involved because the government is open to cooperation with countries and entrepreneurs from abroad," he said.

Responding to this, Singapore's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, welcomed the initiation from the Indonesian Government. According to him, this collaboration could bring many positive things to restore the economies of each country.

“It's nice to meet my friend Minister Erick Thohir in Singapore today. Mr. Erick has a wide and heavy portfolio and I am delighted that he is able to visit Singapore and discuss mutually beneficial cooperation,” he said.

Furthermore, Vivian said that further synergy is the best option to maintain economic relations that have been quite close so far.

“Mr. Erick and I reaffirm our strong bilateral relationship, including in the economic field. I am pleased that in the midst of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, both parties continue to create opportunities for businesses in the two countries to make new breakthroughs together and advance cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore, "he said.

For information, the Minister of BUMN held 13 strategic meetings throughout Friday, February 19 yesterday in Singapore. In his agenda, Erick was accompanied by Deputy Minister Kartika Wirjoatmodjo to meet three local officials, namely Foreign Minister Vivian Balakhrisnan, Trade Minister Chan Chun Sing, and Chairman of the Economic Development Board Beh Swan Gin.

In addition, he also held business meetings with the CEO of Changi Airport, the CEO of Singapore Airlines, the CEO of Singtel, and the CEO of the Central Provident Fund Board.