JAKARTA, Indonesia – Eric Jones, Chief of Staff of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s development finance institution, today traveled to Indonesia, where he reaffirmed OPIC’s commitment to supporting development and investment in priority sectors including digital and energy infrastructure in Indonesia and across the Indo-Pacific region.
“With the largest economy in Southeast Asia, strong economic growth, and Jakarta on track to become the world’s largest urban area within a decade, Indonesia stands as an example of how investment in infrastructure and technology drives development,” said Jones. “OPIC will continue to explore opportunities to support the country’s continued growth and promote greater regional prosperity through projects that are built to last, respect the environment, create local jobs, maintain transparency, and protect national sovereignty.”
While in Indonesia, Jones met with high-level government officials from the Ministry of Finance, and discussed high-impact investment opportunities in the region with local business leaders.
Indonesia is the third stop on a four-country Indo-Pacific tour that began in Malaysia and Singapore and will continue to Laos. Jones is visiting the region to promote U.S. investment as an alternative to unsustainable state-led models, strengthen relationships, and explore opportunities to cooperate with regional allies to drive economic growth and stability.
OPIC currently has more than $3 billion invested across 75 projects in the Indo-Pacific, including more than $125 million invested in Indonesia in projects that range from energy to manufacturing and healthcare.
The visit comes as OPIC prepares to transform into a new, modernized agency called the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) in October 2019. Equipped with a more than doubled investment cap of $60 billion and new tools like equity authority, DFC will have more resources to invest in priority regions such as the Indo-Pacific.
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The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is a self-sustaining U.S. Government agency that helps American businesses invest in emerging markets. Established in 1971, OPIC provides businesses with the tools to manage the risks associated with foreign direct investment, fosters economic development in emerging market countries, and advances U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities. OPIC helps American businesses gain footholds in new markets, catalyzes new revenues and contributes to jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. OPIC fulfills its mission by providing businesses with financing, political risk insurance, advocacy and by partnering with private equity fund managers.
OPIC services are available to new and expanding businesses planning to invest in more than 160 countries worldwide. Because OPIC charges market-based fees for its products, it operates on a self-sustaining basis at no net cost to taxpayers. All OPIC projects must adhere to best international practices and cannot cause job loss in the United States.
