East Nusa Tenggara Pessimistic to Reach Its Investment Target

Kupang (Antara NTT) - The Provincial administration of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) expressed pessimism that it would reach its investment target of Rp8 trillion this year set by Jakarta.

"The target is too high. It would be too difficult for us to reach it," Head of the provincial investment office Semuel Rebo said here on Monday.

Semuel said the target set by the provincial administration is only Rp3.78 trillion and until the third quarter realization already reached Rp3.5 trillion.

Limited infrastructure and various other problems such as difficulty in land procurement for investment often cause a drag in investment plans, he said.

He said though failing to reach the target the investment trend is rising in the province, citing in 2016 investment reached only Rp3.1 trillion.

By the third quarter of this year realization already exceeded investment in the whole of 2016, and more investments are in the last quarter of this year, he said.

"We are pleased with the rising trend although not up to the target set by the Central Government," he added.

The tourism sector mainly hotels is the largest contributor to the investment in the first nine months of the year.

Investment in hotels are recorded in the regencies of Rote Ndao, and Manggarai Barat and the city of Kupang, all built with the foreign investment (PMA) and domestic investment (PMDN) facility, Samuel said.

Other main contributors to the investment include salt processing industry such as by PT Cheetam in Nagekeo, PT Garam Indonesia in Teluk Kupang, Regency of Kupang, and PT Sanche Garam in Rote Ndao.

There is also sea weed processing industry in the regency of Kupang with factory under construction nearing completion in Tablolong; and investment in livestock farm by Brazil and Australian investors in the regency Sumba Timur.

In the agricultural sector there is investment in sugarcane plantation in the regency of Sumba Timur.