Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang headed a big business group to Indonesia, saying that the archipelago held great promise as an investment spot.

Indonesia has introduced a drive to invest almost US$ 156 billion on infrastructure in the next five years, but says it will only be able to fund less than half, with the reminder coming from private investors.

Taiwanese firms are considered as one of the biggest potential sources of the capital required to support Southeast Asia’s largest economy hit its development aim of around 7.7 percent by the next four years (2014).

While talking to media people, the minister said, “Taiwan's investments in Indonesia as of June 2010 reached 14 billion dollars, and Indonesia represents an important investment country in Southeast Asia for Taiwan. Indonesia will also be an indispensable country for our overseas manufacturing endeavors.”

Moreover, officials from almost 36 Taiwanese companies went with the minister during a trip to Indonesia.

An official said that the minister will hold talks with Coordination Investment Broad chief Gita Wirjawan

Indonesia was not much affected by the international financial downfall because of strong local demand as well as its low exposure to exports to troubled Western economies.