Foreign investment in Indonesia up 32 percent

"The investment realization figures are very promising," Gita Wirjawan, chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), said at the board's headquarters in Jakarta on Sunday.

He said the increase had been supported by improvements in investment regulations and better coordination between the central and regional governments.

"If we continue to work hard to further enhance these synergies, I firmly believe this will continually be reflected in the investment figures," he said.

Eric Sugandi, an economist from Standard Chartered in Jakarta, backed Gita's assessment. "In 2009, investors might have had doubts, but this year they are confident," he said

The BKPM on Sunday announced investment figures from foreign and domestic investors. Foreign and domestic investment came to Rp 149.8 trillion this year through September.

Among notable recipients of foreign funding were the real estate, industrial estate and office- building sector, with $800 million. It was followed by mining ($700 million; 88 projects); transportation, storage and telecommunications ($600 million); foodstuffs ($400 million); and plantations ($300 million).

The BKPM also released data on domestic investment showing it had risen 36.5 percent to Rp 38.5 trillion from a year earlier.

The top five sectors were plantations (Rp 4.5 trillion); transportation, storage and telecommunications (Rp 3.1 trillion); foodstuffs (Rp 2.8 trillion); chemicals and pharmaceuticals (Rp 1.4 trillion); and other services (Rp 1.1 trillion).

Foreign investors have been drawn by the country's resilience in the face of the global economic downturn. Indonesia' strong domestic market, paired with a lack of reliance on exports, saw the economy grow 4.5 percent last year as many of its regional rivals were mired in recession.

Indonesia's relatively high key interest rate of 6.5 percent has also drawn attention from investors seeking higher returns. Growing political stability and the prospect of gaining investment-grade ratings for sovereign debt have also reassured investors.