(Jakarta) In the wake of impressive economic growth numbers and the news that Indonesia had regained Investment grade ratings from Moodys, the US-ASEAN Business Council brought its largest ever Business Mission to Jakarta this week. Senior Business Executives from 35 U.S. companies held a week's worth of meetings with Senior Indonesian government officials. In addition to the annual three-day Business Mission, the Council added a one-day session led by Financial Services companies, and will conclude its visit Friday with a delegation focused on the Energy and Natural Resources Sector and the ASEAN Secretariat. The delegation also met with representatives from the Indonesian private sector. The mission was co-led by the Chair of the Council's Indonesia committee, Clay Thompson of Caterpillar, and President of the US-ASEAN Business Council Alexander Feldman.
"Indonesia has all the ingredients necessary to achieve the goal set forward in the Economic Masterplan of becoming one of the world's ten largest economies by 2025," said Clay Thompson. "The Yudhyono administration has been a serious and responsive partner for business, and we are eager to ramp up our work together ahead of Indonesia's 2013 APEC Chairmanship. Indonesia has been a leader on other regional initiatives, including its recently concluded ASEAN Chairmanship, and we look forward to working together on a successful APEC year."
"As the world's fourth largest country, with a young and dynamic population, Indonesia offers remarkable growth opportunities for U.S. companies," said Council President Alexander Feldman. "As Indonesia continues to develop its regulatory framework for business, it is important to continue increasing stakeholder consultation and transparency in the regulatory process. This will ensure that business have the confidence they need to expand and create new investment."
"As the U.S.-Indonesia Business relationship continues to grow, the scope of the Council's annual mission needs to grow as well," said Feldman. "This year's mission is the largest we have ever taken to Jakarta, and includes sector-specific one day missions devoted to Financial Services, Energy and Natural Resources, and the ASEAN Secretariat."
Among the meetings the Mission held were Vice President Boediono, Minister of Defense Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Minister of Trade/Chairman of BKPM Gita Wirjawan, Minister of Industry M.S. Hidayat, Minister of Environment Balthasar Kambuaya, and Minister of Finance, Minister of Labor Muhaimin Iskandar, Minister of ICT Titaful Sembiring, Minister of State for National Development Planning Dr. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, as well as U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel.
Companies participating on the Mission included: Caterpillar, AT&T, Chevron, Citi, ConocoPhillips, Dow Chemical, Eli Lilly, ExxonMobil, FedEx Express, Ford Motor Company, Freeport McMoRan, GE, General Atlantic, IBM, Jhpiego, MasterCard, Microsoft, Monsanto, Murphy Oil, News Corporation, Procter & Gamble, Peabody Energy, Pfizer, Qualcomm, Sampoerna, Seagate, Time Warner, and Visa.