Monday, April 9, 2012
State Minister for State Owned Enterprises Dahlan Iskan states that, after the global financial crisis taking place in 2008 has ended, it is high time for Indonesian state-owned enterprises to expand their business operation overseas.
"Back in 15 years ago, the financial condition of some state-owned companies during the crisis was terrible. Therefore some of them had to be sold. Now it is the right time for them to expand overseas and there will be no more state enterprises to be sold," says Dahlan.
It is delivered Dahlan during the agenda of the trial operation of a new cement making plant of PT Semen Gresik Tbk, located in Sumberarum Village of Kerek Sub-district, Tuban regency, here on Thursday (04/05/2012).
The main target countries for the business expansion of the Indonesian state-owned enterprises are ASEAN countries. Representatives of state-owned enterprises will be established to conduct surveys to see any potential business opportunities existing overseas to be captured and developed.
"Maybe, we will prepare three or more people in some neighbor countries. They will report what potential business opportunities there to the ministry office in Jakarta to be processed before making any decisions on what investment sectors to be performed," says Former President Director of PLN.
The state-owned enterprises which will be involved in the overseas business expansion programs are those in the sectors of banking, cement, and infrastructure construction. Now some state-owned enterprises have been making serious preparation for their overseas investment programs.
The target countries for their business investment plans include Burma, Malaysia and some other ASEAN countries. The businesses expansion investments in some neighbor countries are made under the consideration that Indonesia would like to establish a relationship for mutual benefit with other neighbor countries.
Dahlan further states that the experience of Indonesia as the leader of ASEAN enables the country to create opportunities for cooperation in investments made by her state enterprises.
In relation to the new cement making plant owned by Semen Gresik, Dahlan says that it is of course a very positive corporate action to meet the growing domestic demand of cement. The new plant will improve the production capacity of Semen Gresik by approximately 2.5 million per year.
"The improved production will answer the shortage of cement in eastern Indonesia, as happening in East Kalimantan. Besides, the need of electricity also has no problems," says Dahlan.