Taiwanese Investors Eye Selayar

TEMPO Interactive, Makassar:Taiwanese investors are eyeing Selayar regency to be used as an oil storage site. However, the investment plan can only be completed with supporting infrastructure such as roads, electricity and potable water.


“This is what they are considering if they want to build an oil storage facility with a 7,000 liter capacity. If there are insufficient facilities, the investors will leave,” said the South Sulawesi Regional Investment Coordinating Board (BKPMD) chief Irman Yasin Limpo, at the South Sulawesi Regional Council meeting yesterday.


According to Irman, investors are committed to the project, so the BKPMD will convince the investors to choose South Sulawesi. “Even if they don’t choose Selayar due to insufficient facilities, we will offer other areas such as Barru, Maros and Takalar," he said.


The three areas have the requirements demanded by the investors. Takalar, for instance, has electricity, potable water and deep sea. “We just need to convince the regional government because this is a large investment and will have many impacts on South Sulawesi, particularly in the oil and gas sector,” he said.


Besides the infrastructure, Irman added, another point considered by the investors was administrative ease. “The one-door integrated service system applied by the South Sulawesi government facilitates the investors,” he said.


Irman also said that so far investors were faced with difficult administrative problems. He also called on the government to delegate the problem to the BKPMD through a gubernatorial regulation. “If the documents are completed the administration process can be completed in 4 – 6 hours, otherwise it will take a maximum of one week,” he said.


South Sulawesi Regional House of Representatives’ (DPRD) Commission C member, Muhammad Amir Anas, responded to the BKPMD’s measures positively. However, he said, the BKPMD should provide information on regional potential. “Therefore, investors can become interested in investing just by reading information online,” he said.



SYAMSULMARLIN