Liputan6.com, Bandung - Entrepreneurs in the Province of West Java (Jabar) who are members of the Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association (Apindo) admit that they are optimistic about achieving targets like 2023 when they enter the current political year.

According to the Chairman of the West Java Apindo Central Management Board (DPP), Ning Wahyu Astutik, this optimism arises based on the realization of business and investment in 2023 in West Java which was able to exceed the target.

"The investment coming in (2023) in West Java is more than the target. So I am very happy. Even though this is close to the political year, it turns out that the optimism from entrepreneurs, both PMDN (Domestic Investment) and PMA (Foreign Investment) is extraordinary," said Ning's written statement was Bandung, Friday, February 2 2024.

Regarding the current issue of the company being in turmoil, Ning said that so far his party had not received this information.

Ning said Apindo does not expect any company to experience turmoil for one reason or another. Especially in the middle of the 2024 election which is currently underway.

"There are no leaks. We are trying not to have any relocations. If I were asked like this now, I hope not," said Ning.

On the other hand, Ning also explained that labor-intensive companies are currently quite vulnerable to relocation issues.

Ning said that there were several companies relocating from West Java from 2022 to 2023. These companies were established in Sukabumi and Purwakarta.

"So there are indeed less labor-intensive areas, especially in Karawang," explained Ning.

Regarding infrastructure, Ning said, West Java is a province that is quite good and supports investment.

"West Java is great, now the infrastructure is better, for example in Patimban. We also see that the Rebana area is starting to develop. In Cirebon there is a lot of investment," he said.

Ning also explained that in the last 10 years many companies had been established in West Java, such as in Cirebon there were three large shoe factories.

"I said that based on what I saw directly in several areas, especially Cirebon, there are three shoe factories there. If we talk about shoes, that means one factory requires tens of thousands of employees and there are three big ones there," explained Ning.

Facing the political year, Ning reiterated that elections were not the first time this had happened, but the business world was still fine.

"So entrepreneurs must remain optimistic because it's not just now that elections happen. Every five years there is an election and we are all fine," said Ning.

Previously, the Acting Governor of West Java, Bey Machmudin, wanted existing tourism to develop rapidly, especially in the Ciayumajakuning area, which includes Cirebon City, Cirebon Regency, Indramayu, Majalengka and Kuningan.

For this reason, Bey met with young people to listen to their aspirations regarding the development of tourist areas in the Ciayumajakuning area.

"I want tourism in West Java to develop and listen to the opinions of young people (Bobobox) or those who have a contemporary vision and mission," said Bey on Tuesday (30/1/2024).

Bey targets that tourists from outside the region will be the main focus in efforts to develop the West Java International Airport (BIJB) in Kertajati, Majalengka Regency.

"Basically, I ask, try where tourism is interesting and if possible, that destination attracts tourists from outside West Java, so use a plane (from Kertajati). I ask that the focus be on Ciayumajakuning to attract tourists to the area because that is also for (development of) BIJB," Bey said.

According to data, Bey said that currently the tourist destinations in West Java most visited by tourists are Lembang, Puncak Bogor and Pangandaran.

Bey wants in the future, the Ciayumajakuning area to become the new prima donna of tourism in West Java.

"From Bobobox data, the busiest ones are Lembang, Puncak and Pangandaran. I ask that Ciayumajakuning also be developed for its tourism potential," said Bey.

The West Java Provincial Government wants to collaborate with various parties in an effort to increase tourism in West Java to obtain Regional Original Income (PAD) from this sector.

"Essentially, we want to collaborate with all parties so that West Java's tourism potential is truly accommodated because there is everything here, from the beaches to the mountains," he said.

"We are starting to think about PAD from the tourism sector. So anticipate from now on, don't let us confuse ourselves in finding sources of PAD," explained Bey.

Quoting the Regional page Liputan6.com, the West Java Government is targeted by the Indonesian Government to increase the number of investments compared to the previous six year period.

According to the Acting Regional Secretary (PJ) of West Java Province, Taufiq Budi Santoso, one of the strategies to increase this investment is to provide a conducive climate for investors.

"As ordered by the central government, we are targeted to increase investment in West Java to between Rp. 247-Rp. 250 trillion. So if we see that investment, it is important for us to encourage and facilitate and prepare a conducive climate," said Taufiq, Bandung. , Tuesday, January 30 2024.

Taufiq added that investment is an important part of forming Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) in the West Java region.

The reason is that investment is actually an important part of the formation of GRDP apart from consumption, government spending, exports and imports. Taufiq hopes that the targets set by the Indonesian Government can be realized.

"For this reason, the West Java Provincial Government is trying as hard as possible together with all districts and cities to provide licensing services for this investment," said Taufiq.

Meanwhile, Head of the West Java Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Service (DPMPTSP), Nining Yuliastiani, said that there are several things to focus on in increasing investment.

Nining detailed that there are three focuses for economic improvement that can be driven to increase investment in West Java Province.

"Our focus is to increase investment, namely renewable and technology-based infrastructure, tourism and downstreaming," said Nining.

Nining is optimistic that the investment targeted by the Indonesian Government through the Ministry of Investment/BKPM to the West Java Government can be realized.

Nining explained that West Java's investment amount was around IDR 247 trillion-IDR 250 trillion, which would be the national target.

"We are optimistic that we can achieve that, seeing that every year we can exceed the target and of course because West Java has many things that support increased investment," said Nining.

Nining added that West Java investment realization in 2023 would reach IDR 210.6 trillion, above the target given of IDR 188 trillion.

The top five districts and cities with the largest investment are Bekasi Regency IDR 61.21 trillion, Karawang Regency IDR 45.86 trillion, Bogor Regency IDR 15.18 trillion, Purwakarta Regency IDR 14.88 trillion, and Bekasi City IDR 12.3 trillion.

"Investment in West Java, especially the Rebana (north) and Arumanis (south) areas, continues to increase. From 2021 to 2023, total investment in the Rebana Metropolitan area will reach IDR 50.11 trillion. Meanwhile in the Arumanis area it is worth IDR 27.3 trillion," said Nining.

Apart from PMDN (domestic investment), foreign investors targeting West Java also continue to increase. In 2023, foreign investors entering West Java will reach IDR 122.6 trillion.

Specifically for foreign investment, Japan was the highest contributor with an investment value of IDR 26.65 trillion. Other countries are Singapore, China, South Korea and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Representative of Bank Indonesia, Bambang Pramono, added that investment realization in West Java which always exceeds targets shows the success of the West Java Provincial Government in preparing its potential.

"What is being offered is very popular and has potential so it has succeeded in attracting investment," he said.

Bambang emphasized that investment must be more spread out not only in the northern region, but also to the south of West Java. West Java also has the potential to develop a sharia economy and a green economy or renewable energy.

Bambang said that success in creating a harmonious investment climate is the key to the realization of West Java investment which will accelerate in 2023 and must be continued.

Apart from that, high investment realization also plays an important role in driving West Java's economic growth in line with the Incremental Capital Output Ratio (ICOR) value which is relatively stable from year to year.

"All stakeholders related to investment in West Java also need to actively carry out various proactive and innovative efforts in identifying potential projects that are currently of interest to foreign investors, especially for potential investors who are looking for safe and comfortable investment fund placement options," explained Bambang.

The West Java government was recorded as successful in recording investment realization throughout 2023 of IDR 210.6 trillion, or 112 percent of the target set by the Ministry of Investment.

This achievement also had a significant impact on the economy of West Java along with the total employment of 253,424 people, with the number of Investment Activity Reports (LKPM) amounting to 94,469 LKPM.

With these achievements, supported by maintained household consumption and the performance of leading economic sectors, West Java's economic growth in 2023 is estimated at 4.7-5.5 percent (yoy).

In early January 2024, during the six years from 2018-2024, the investment realization achieved by West Java Province (Jabar) reached IDR 838.81 trillion with a workforce absorption of 856.3 thousand people.

Nining Yuliastiani previously said that with this achievement, development could continue.

"In the past six years, West Java has become number one in Indonesia and that was the position, thank God, last year 2023, we were rewarded by BKPM for being the best province in Indonesia providing investment services," said Nining, quoted from the Jabarprov TV Bandung Youtube account, Wednesday , January 10, 2024.

Nining said investment was the most important driver for development. Therefore, investment development must continue.

Nining said that West Java Province was superior in achieving investment realization in Indonesia for six consecutive years. Even so, we must continue to explore the various potentials we have to create new sectors.

"Looking at what happens in 2023, there are many things to evaluate in developing the investment ecosystem in West Java," said Nining.

Nining said that his party had taken a stance to provide solutions to the challenges that would be faced in the following year, such as geopolitical tensions, climate change, future pandemics, and digitalization.

He admitted that the future conditions would not be easy to increase the investment that would be brought in.

"In 2024, West Java will focus on encouraging the development of renewable-based downstream industries in West Java and encouraging the implementation of the Green Economy in West Java," said Nining.

Nining said that West Java is not enough just to promote the various potentials that exist to attract investors.

Nining emphasized that the presence of quality human resources (HR) is one of the keys to investment development.

"The quality of human resources is an asset that becomes an investment, a good human resources position will become a component of economic activity in West Java, and become material for promoting investment assets. Let's work together to support quality investment," said Nining.

Nining added that West Java's major investment achievements in 2023, both the realization of Foreign Investment (PMA) and Domestic Investment (PMDN), will continue to be encouraged in 2024, especially if supported by infrastructure and ease of licensing services.

"This will certainly have an impact on better labor absorption," said Nining.

(SOURCE)