Indonesia president calls on Australian businesses to invest

Visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called Thursday on Australian entrepreneurs to invest in the Asian country, saying there is a huge potential to boost business links.

"Our economy is not only in good health, it is also in a good position to help restore the health of the global financial system, " Dr Yudhoyono told guests at a business forum on Thursday morning.

"I see no reason why in the years ahead that partnership will not grow even stronger," Dr Yudhoyono said. "I join you here this morning with a good sense of confidence."

"I hope the entrepreneurs of both countries find ways of complementing each other and strike up partnerships that benefit us all."

He also reassured business leaders that his country was in good economic health with a stable democracy.

The president said there were a range of sectors in which Australian and Indonesian companies could co-operate such as agriculture and food security.

"Australia has experience and skill to do this business and we welcome the co-operation and partnership in this, in food processing and other agricultural type business."

"In energy security, we invite you to be part of the development of our energy, not just oil, gas and coal but in renewable energy as well. Infrastructure building is also good for our partnership. We are also developing surface industries as in health, education, banking and others," he said.

Yudhoyono was the first Indonesian leader to address a joint sitting of Australia's parliament in Canberra on Wednesday. During his visit to Australia, the two nations have signed off on an implementation framework on people smuggling and cmmitted boosting relations on a number of fronts such as people smuggling and terrorism and closer economic ties.

Source:Xinhua