Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) and the Ministry of Rural, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration of Indonesia (KDPDT) have agreed to establish a special desk to facilitate all administrative matters related to investment by companies in both countries.

Miti Minister Darell Leiking and KDPDT Minister Eko Putro Sandjojo in a bilateral meeting today agreed to set up the desk to reduce bureaucracy in matters related to investment and business involving companies in the two countries.

The desk, to be managed by both ministries, would facilitate all dealings relating to problems in investment faced by entrepreneurs in Malaysia and Indonesia, said Darell.

In his three-day working visit to Indonesia beginning yesterday, Darell held bilateral discussions with Eko Putro, who is also the minister responsible for Malaysia-Indonesia investments.

“All questions and problems including affairs with other related ministries will also be resolved through the desk and we will expedite all bureaucratic matters," said Eko Putro.

Eko Putro said Indonesia is the seventh largest trade partner in the world for Malaysia and third biggest in Asean.

"Bilateral trade almost doubled from US$9.02 billion in 2006 to US$16.89 billion last year, representing 4.1 percent of Malaysia’s total trade globally.

He said from the investment aspect, Malaysian companies accounted for a significant portion in the republic.

Last year, Malaysia was the eighth biggest investor in Indonesia, with investments of US$1.21 billion.

For the 2008-2017 period, Malaysia had invested some US$17 billion in Indonesia, and in the last decade, its investment in the republic were in key sectors such as banking, trading, construction, toll roads, power and telecommunications.

- Bernama