Bali News

Investment growth in Bali is increasing an a higher pace than other areas in Indonesia. However the government is considered not smart enough in taking maximum benefit on it. Flow of investment which should generate significant income goes right away. The opinion was expressed by the chairman of Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) – Bali Chapter, Panudiana Kuhn, on Friday July 3rd).

He considered statement about low investment in Bali an absurd one, especially with growing number of foreign tourist visits which surely initiate positive impact into various business activities. Unfortunately weak attention makes these investments unnoticed. “Presidential election and global financial crisis does not really affect Bali”, he said.

Investment in hotels, villas, condotels, and apartments is quite significant and continuously growing. Unfortunately most of them are illegal and therefore not recorded. “Look at thousands of villas which do not have license yet”, Kuhn shows an example. If these villas are recorded and granted with necessary license, they will bring not only enormous income but also other positive impacts. It is so unfortunate that such a significant potential is left over. “I don’t know why”, he added.

Other than illegal Bali villas Kuhn also pay attention to bureaucratic procedure in license processing which tends to be complicated. If we make it clear and transparent, there will be even more investmen flowing in. Therefore bureaucrates are expected to reorganize themselves and initiate breaktrhoughs in license processing to clear the barrier.

A number of officials in the country noted low investment in industry. Even the Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani, said that investment is not recovered from global financial crisis as well as general situation related to the coming presidential election. In contrast Kuhn believes that the presidential election brings significant economic potentials.