Chinese Investors Eyeing North Maluku: Official

Ternate, North Maluku, Nov 18 (Antara) - Numerous investors from China have expressed an interest in tapping into the potential of the coconut shell charcoal and coconut fibers business in North Maluku, a local official revealed on Monday. "The abundant natural resources of North Maluku have become a magnet for investors, particularly from China, who want to invest in the province," the Head of North Maluku�s Agriculture Department, Gazali Westplat said. Gazali added that the Chinese investors had expressed an interest in investing in North Maluku upon hearing of the possible wealth afforded by the province`s natural resources, which had been promoted at a meeting held in Beijing recently. According to him, representatives from eight Indonesian provinces, including North Maluku were invited to attend the meeting which was mediated by the Ministry of Agriculture of China. "At least 150 local investors present at the meeting, which was held at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, expressed their willingness to make a direct investment," Gazali noted. He further added that the investors at the meeting had discussed three important aspects, namely the availability of a regional database of the province`s potential, the possibility of local investors collaborating with their Chinese counterparts, and the investors` target market. Gazali reiterated that North Maluku should take the opportunity by immediately providing supporting infrastructure, such as an adequate sea port for facilitating exports from the province. "With the presence of an adequate port in North Maluku, cargo ships from China will be able to directly transport the export goods from the province," he noted. Gazali added that the other technical step that needed to be taken was boosting coordination between the provincial government and the district municipal government, as well as with the industrial and trade offices and local businessmen engaged in the business of coconut shell charcoal and coconut fibers.