BKPM says Jokowi's visit to Hong Kong is to attract investment

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's plan to visit Hong Kong is aimed at attracting investment, Chief of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Thomas Trikasih Lembong said.

Hong Kong plays an important role as a financial center in the Asia-Pacific region and a hub of manufacturing industries in mainland China, Lembong said here on Wednesday.

"Hong Kong is one of the financial centers when it comes to infrastructure funding and capital flow," he said.

He said the Chinese government has adopted a One Belt One Road program as an integrated Eurasia economic zone which will develop infrastructures stretching from East Africa, Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia to China.

"We anticipate the possibility of Hong Kong playing a huge role in Chine's program to develop infrastructures," he said.

He said President Jokowi's planned visit to Hong Kong is also important because the territory serves as a gateway to South China which is known as a hub for manufacturing industries.

South China known as "Pearl River Delta" has several global manufacturing centers including Shenzen and Guangzhou, he said.

The president's visit to Hong Kong is one of the ways to attract manufacturers to invest in Indonesia, he said.

It was reported earlier that President will leave for Hong Kong on April 30 to meet Indonesian migrant workers. On the second day of his visit, he will hold a business meeting and meet with several CEOs.