"I believe that within the next 1-2 years, the People's Republic of China become the top contributor to Foreign Direct Investment in Indonesia, and that's what I've been waiting for," he  was quoted by antaranews.com as saying on Monday (16/10/2023). The Ministry of Investment/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) recorded that investment realization for the first half of 2023 reached Rp 678.7 trillion. Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States are the top five countries that have invested the most in Indonesia during the first half of 2023. "I want to express my gratitude for your investments and contributions to Indonesia's development. In 2013, the People's Republic of China was ranked 12th in terms of Foreign Direct Investment contributors to Indonesia, but in 2022, it has risen to the second position, a very rapid increase," the President said during the Indonesia-China Business Forum in Beijing, China. About 200 Chinese entrepreneurs and 100 Indonesian entrepreneurs attended the forum. The event was also attended by Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce for Bilateral Relations with China Garibaldi Thohir, Acting Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment and Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung. During the event, 31 Indonesian and Chinese companies signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in areas such as batteries and electricity. (mg/inp/pr/nm)