Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A number of US businessmen grouped in the US-ASEAN Trade Committee have confirmed their commitment to increasing the value of their investment and expanding their business in Indonesia.

In a press statement after a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential Office on Thursday, the Committee Chairman George Kirkland said their meeting with the head of state was a chance to explain the commitment of US large firms in investing in Indonesia.

Their commitment to increasing investment is a form of their confidence over Indonesia`s national investment climate.

"We have a big chance to make investment. We discuss it with the president to find opportunities and chances. It is our focus how to increase the value of our investment in Indonesia," Kirkland said.

He said that based on the messages of the presidents of the two countries, US firms would continue increase economic cooperation. Apart from opening work opportunities, training would also continue to be opened in Indonesia.

In the meantime, other Committee leader Alexander Feldman said in other part of their meeting with the president they also discussed matters relating to the APEC meeting in 2013 which would be held in Indonesia and APEC meeting in 2016 which would be held in the United States.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said the US-ASEAN Trade Committee has 14 large scale US companies which had expressed commitment to increasing their investment in Indonesia.

He sited as an example US heavy equipment firm Caterpilar which had expressed commitment to make new investment worth US$2 billion in Batam.

In the meantime, P&G, a US firm producing products for children, will also expand its investment in Batam.

Hatta said that he hoped the benefit of the economic cooperation would mutually felt by both sides.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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