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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's efforts to pull in foreign investors by releasing 12 economic policy packages appears successful from the reactions of international delegations to the World Islamic Economic Forum who met with the president.

Jokowi engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with Qatar and Jordan on Tuesday (02/08). There was also a courtesy call from a Malaysian company at the sidelines of the conference.

Azman Mokhtar, managing director of the Malaysian fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad which has been involved in the development of Cipali Toll Road, has expressed the company's will to enlarge the investment portfolio in Indonesia.

"They were pleased with the previous opportunity [of Cipali project], and they would like to invest more. Aside from [more] toll roads, they are also eyeing power plants and telecommunication sector," Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said after the meeting in a press conference. He added that the company asked the president to advise in which regions they could invest.

Bilateral meetings with Qatar and Jordan

Jokowi also met Qatar's Minister of Economy and Trade Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani, with Qatar agreeing to invest in more sectors of the Indonesian economy. During the meeting, the president also elaborated on the 12 economic reform packages. Indonesia will send a delegation to Qatar to present the policies.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, who accompanied the president in the bilateral meetings with Qatar and Jordan, explained as quoted in a statement, that "there is a high commitment from Qatar to increase its investment in Indonesia. Currently, their investments are in telecommunication, banking and retail. Qatar wants to investment more in other sectors."

The minister also informed, after president's meeting with with Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan Jawad Al Anani, that Jordanian government seeks to enhance partnership with Indonesia in economy and counter-terrorism.

"Jordan is eager to strengthen cooperation in economy. So far, we have partnered in construction of fertilizer [factories] and other strategic Indonesian industries. Our second partnership is in battling terrorism."

Jordan expects Indonesia to continue the fight anti-terrorism along with other Muslim countries, since Indonesia with the biggest Muslim population in the world is capable of spreading moderate and tolerant Islamic views, Retno said.

*Jakarta Globe