The flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Indonesia rose significantly in the second quarter of this year. (Photo: AFP)Jakarta (VNA) – The flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) intoIndonesia rose significantly in the second quarter of this year from tiny gainsin the first three months, reported the country’s Investment Coordinating Board.
FDI in the country during April-June picked up 15.5 percent year-on-year to 8.2billion USD. Meanwhile, growth in the first quarter was only 6 percent. Theincoming FDI excluded capital in banking and oil and gas sectors.
In the second quarter, Singapore was the largest investor in the country,followed by Japan and China. Most of the FDI capital was poured into basicmetals, mining and public services.
Improving the business climate is among Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s keypolicies. The country aims to lift economic growth from 5 percent this year to7 percent soon.
Last year, President Joko Widodo declared to open the door for foreignbusinesses to invest in tens of economic sectors, a move described by Chairmanof the Investment Coordinating Board Thomas Lembong as the most vigorous changein the country in the past 10 years.
In an interview with Reuters earlier this month, President Widodo said Indonesiawill loosen regulations on foreign investors’ ownership rights as from August.
In May, Standard & Poors (S&P) rating agency raised Indonesia's creditrating to investment grade with stable outlook. S&P said the Indonesian governmenthas used effective measures to stabilise public finance, however, the countryneeds to improve management issues like corruption.-VNA
VNA
