SAMARINDA (East Kalimantan): Malaysian businessmen keen to do business in Indonesia’s upcoming new capital, Nusantara, must think beyond conventional sectors, says Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

       The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) said there is enormous business potential waiting to be tapped in the new capital city as well as other parts of East Kalimantan.

       “It is exciting to know of this potential that is broad-ranging, from infrastructure, tourism and agriculture to others.

       “But we should be more creative and look at other sectors beyond these such as education, health and those that are being focused on by the Indonesian government,” he said after meeting the East Kalimantan vice-governor Hadi Mulyadi at the latter’s office here yesterday.

       Ongkili, who led the Malaysian delegation that included Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam and Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, was also briefed on the business and investment opportunities by the Indonesian Investment Board One-Stop Service.

       “We would encourage the private sectors in Malaysia to tap into this potential, and we, from the government, will facilitate it, while the Malaysian Embassy will provide us with the details on investment incentives available here,” he said in a statement.

       Ongkili anticipates that things will be fast-moving in the next two years as Indonesia prepares to move its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara (East Kalimantan) in the first quarter of 2024.

       Describing the week-long visit as “timely and strategic”, Ongkili said they aimed to obtain first-hand information on the new location of the Indonesian capital and its likely impact on the border economy between Kalimantan and Sabah and Sarawak.

       “We also hope this visit will enhance existing ties between the two countries so that we can work closely in the future,” he added.