JAKARTA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesia-U.S. bilateral partnership agreement to be signed at the end of this year could lead to the removal of tariffs on some Indonesian products such as textiles, the Jakarta Globe reported on Wednesday.
"The agreement could be the start of another detailed agreement on specific issues, such as removing duties on textiles exported to the United States," said Shinta Kamdani, an official at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) who oversees foreign investment.
The Comprehensive US-Indonesia Bilateral Partnership agreement was proposed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in November and accepted in principle by the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, in February.
It will address issues including trade relations, education, democracy and reform, food security and climate change.
Citing to the expectation of Indonesian businesses, the Kadin learned that they wanted greater transfer of innovative and creative technologies to Indonesian companies from U.S. firms based in Indonesia through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.
These suggestions are to be compiled into a report for later discussion, she said.
Meanwhile, US businesses are demanding more legal certainty in Indonesia, including clarification of vague and often contradictory regulations, Sandiaga Uno, another Kadin official, said.
If some of these conditions are met, US companies have promised to boost investment in Indonesia, he added.
According to Sandiaga, U.S. firms, like General Electric and mining firms, would double investment in the country.
