CANADA PERSUADING ITS BUSINESSMEN TO INVEST IN RI

Jakarta, July 7 (ANTARA) - Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia John Holmes said that he has constantly persuading Canadian businessmen still focusing on US and Mexico to invest in Indonesia.

"We understand they are still focusing their investment in the US and Mexico because of psychological reasons," Holmes in the company of the Canadian embassy second secretary Joya Donnelly said on the occasion of a reception to mark the Canadian National Day in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Canada celebrates its 141st anniversary. Hundreds of guests including ambassadors, government officials and businessmen attended the reception "400th Anniversary of Quebec City." A UNESCO world heritage city, Quebec is one of the earliest European settlements in North America.

Ambassador Holmes further said that attempts to lure Canadian businesspeople to invest in Indonesia have been carried out by the two countries at business forums.

"They can invest in the oil and gas, mining and infrastructure sectors," he said.

He also said that some businessmen were interested in the geothermal sector.

To protect their investments, the two countries' officials were still discussing a bilateral legal framework and solutions in anticipating problems.
Trade between the two countries in 2007 reached US$2 billion and investment US$3 billion.

Indonesia's exports to Canada include rubber, mechinery and furniture, and its imports from that country comprised wheat, pulp and fertilizers.

Last year Canada also exported beef to Indonesia.

"We have recorded that both trade and investment had increase by 10 percent," Holmes said.