Polish, German Business Persons Keen To Invest In Easttern Seram

Ambon, Maluku, Nov 21 (ANTARA) - A number of Polish and German business persons have expressed interest in investing in the mining and plantation sectors of Eastern Seram regency, Ambon, Maluku province. "Many investors from Poland and Germany are keen to make large-scale investment in the near future," Eastern Seram regent Jacobis Puttileihalat said here on Tuesday. He stated that the investors have also met with Maluku governor Karel Albert Ralahalu to discuss the prospects of long-term investment in the region. �The investors will first exploit nickel and other minerals as well as palm oil in Eastern Seram, while the local administration will focus on the establishment of a Special Economic Zone (KEK),� Puttileihalat said. "We will submit the proposal for KEK establishment, including its requirements, to the KEK National Council," he continued. Puttileihalat expressed hope that the KEK National Council would soon review and approve the proposal, followed by a Presidential decree on zone inauguration. �KEK will use former concession areas, including the Industrial Forest Concessions (HTI) area, which was developed by Djayanti Group Company,� he noted. �Besides, the investors will construct a 150 megawatt coal power plant, which will be used by the company and also help tackle the electricity crisis in the regency,� Puttileihalat explained. "Regarding the areas inhabited by locals, we will give due compensation and facilitate their resettlement before the area is listed as an asset of the regency administration," he said. Puttileihalat noted that the investors had already completed the exploration phase and were currently conducting a feasibility study. The construction of the processing company will begin in 2013. "The processing company�s construction will be start next year and production is expected to begin soon thereafter, which will lead to a lot of labour absorption and economic growth in the region," he pointed out. Based on the contract between the regional administration and the investors, local workers will account for 75-80 percent of the company�s total workforce, while the rest will come from outside the province. "We have cooperated with a state-owned company, PT Manusela, to manage the production of the mining and plantation sectors," Puttileihalat said. Environmental Issues Meanwhile, Governor Ralahalu also called on the investors to �care about the environmental issues and not damage the local ecosystem�. "The investors must give priority to environmental issues while carrying out mining exploitation and processing so as to not damage the forests," he said. Ralahalu also urged the investors to absorb as many local people as possible in the production process and help reduce unemployment and poverty in the region. He expressed hope that long-term investment in Maluku would increase the prosperity of local people and reduce the high rate of poverty in the province.