Top levels of Swiss Community attended a SACC breakfast meeting with the topic “ Indonesia : the Trade and Investment Destination ” in Zurich

       
       
       
 
 
       
 

Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) has organized a Breakfast meeting with the topic “Indonesia: the Trade and Investment Destination ” at Hotel Savoy Baur en Ville, Zürich, on 25 January 2008. The event was attended by 45 top business community of the big Swiss enterprises such as Alstom, Asset Management Consulting, Bank Julius Bär, Credit Suisse, Holcim, and UBS . The event was aimed at bringing the Swiss business community an up-to-date on the economy's most recent developments and changes, as well as on the prospects for doing business and investing in Indonesia .

 
 

The meeting was officially opened by the Ambassador of Indonesia to Switzerland, , H.E. Madame Lucia H. Rustam, followed by presentation by Mr. Andin Hadiyanto, Head of Research Centre for Investment Climate, Ministry of Trade, who that day represented the Minister of Trade, Madame Mari Elka Pangestu as keynote speaker . The meeting was also completed discussion, which was moderated by the President of SACC, Mr. Martin Kuenzler.

 

 

In the opening speech, Ambassador Rustam express her delight that the number of Swiss companies investing in Indonesia has increased significantly over the past years. This positive trend, which is all set to continue in the future, is due largely to the recent improvements and fundamental reforms made to Indonesia's economic framework which have, in turn, helped create a more conducive business climate. the promising business and investment opportunities which now exist between Switzerland and Indonesia are also the result of two countries' common desire to pursue strong and mutually beneficial bilateral economic relations, as highlighted by the visit of Mrs. Calmy-Rey, the then President of Switzerland, to Indonesia last February. Thus, Ambassador Rustam urged Swiss business community to cultivating good business contacts remains the key for enhancing investment partnerships, and that forums such as this one are the perfect means to conduct business networking and exchange information between firms, institutions, government bodies and individuals interested in doing business in Indonesia .

 
 

Meanwhile, Mr. Adiyanto presented some important aspects of the fundamental reforms that Indonesia has undertaken in the past few years, such as law enforcement, the Law on investment, corruption eradication etc. This reform has brought to a positive improvement to Indonesian economic and trade, as well as investment. The new law on investment has certaintly guarantee to a more conducive business climate, particularly to foreign investors. On bilateral relation terms, Mr. Adiyanto also highlighted the effort of both Countries to strengthened economic and trade relation among others. On Indonesian side, the attempt has been undertaken by increasing the quality of export products of Indonesian origin, and inviting more Swiss investors to Indonesia . The upcoming negotiation of Free Trade Area cooperation between Indonesia and EFTA members countries will hopefully bring to a stronger mutual relation between the two countries.

 
( Source: Embassy of Indonesia in Bern )