The DNI was revised two weeks ago, allowing greater foreign ownership in dozens of sectors, while at the same time opening new sectors that were previously closed to foreign investment. Daniel Hui, managing director of China-ASEAN Capital Advisory Co. Ltd., said he was optimistic the domestic investment climate was becoming better.

“It’s good to see all the [economic policy] packages and I’m pleased with the progress of the current government,” he said.

It works under the direction of the People’s Republic of China’s State Council and was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission.

It currently controls a total of about US$1 billion and is involved in two projects in Indonesia. Hui said that it was looking to enlarge its fund size by an additional $3 billion and to invest more of that money in Indonesia.

He, however, said the government could still improve its approach toward foreign investors by cutting more red tape and combating corrupt practices.

“[The project] approval process is not very smooth because even departments have different says. So it takes a lot of steps to get the approval,” he said.

Such procedure simplification as what Hui has requested is what President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo knows all too well. The former furniture businessman has been pushing for easier business access and higher investments since taking office.

His target includes propelling Indonesia to the 40th position within the World Bank’s ease of doing business ranking this year, up from last year’s position of 109th.

Under Jokowi’s leadership, the government has so far issued 10 economic policy packages and Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said the 11th package — focusing on the logistics sector — would be issued soon.

Meanwhile, Euben Paracuelles, executive director of Nomura Singapore Ltd., said that the government’s series of economic reforms had put Indonesia back on its clients’ radar screen.

“People in Europe and the US have also asked me about Indonesia. These guys are the ones I haven’t spoken to in two to three years. Indonesia is definitely back on the radar screen.”

The reforms have fueled Nomura’s optimism about Indonesia’s economic growth, setting its growth forecast at 5.2 percent for 2016.

Similar praise was voiced by the Swedish government as well. Swedish Ambassador to Indonesia Johanna Brismar Skoog said on Wednesday more Swedish companies had become more interested in investing in Indonesia and making it a hub in Southeast Asia.

He is at number 34 with a total net worth of US$325mil (RM1.37bil).

Nirvana Asia is an integrated death care service provider and was listed on the Hong Kong Exchange in December, 2014.

Another first-timer, at number 48, is Goh Siang. He has a total net worth if US$205mil (RM864.5mil).

Goh is a senior executive director of world’s largest condom maker by capacity, Karex Bhd.

Shares of Karex soared 36% during the past year. His father, Huang Chiat, started the company in 1988.

The company churns out nearly 4.5 billion pieces of condom a year and recently acquired Medical-Latex, which was its first customer.

The other three newcomers include Patrick Grove, Wong Teek Son and Sabah timber tycoon Datuk Freddy Lim Nyuk Sang.

Smart online startups and investments put Grove on the roster at number 39 with a net worth of US$260mil (RM1.1bil). He is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Catcha Group.

Wong, a glovemaker, joins the list at number 40 with US$255mil (RM1.07bil) and co-founded Riverstone Holdings in 1989.

The company makes gloves for clean room and healthcare uses; customers include major hard-disk manufacturers such as Hitachi, Seagate and Western Digital.

Lim ranks number 50 with a total net worth of US$195mil (RM822.3mil) returns after one-year absence, though he was worth US$35mil (RM148mil) less than in 2014. He returns after he raised his stake in palm oil company Kretam Holdings, where he is CEO, to more than 60%.

At number 24 with a net worth of US$575mil (RM2.42bil) is 59-year-old Ahmayuddin Ahmad of Westports Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Ahmayuddin, a low-profile figure in the business world, sits on the board of Westports Malaysia, the group’s investment holding company that manages port operations and development projects. Ahmayuddin was ranked number 28 on the list in the 2015 ranking.

Iskandar-based property tycoon Tan Sri Lim Kang Hoo, 61, is ranked number 26 in the list with a total net worth of US$550mil (RM2.32bil).

Lim controls Iskandar Waterfront Holdings, the master developer of 4,000 acres slated to become a new urban centre in Johor. Last year he entered into joint venture with China Railway Engineering Corp to buy a controlling stake in the Bandar Malaysia development, an urban township outside Kuala Lumpur, from the Government in a US$1.8bil (RM7.6bil) deal.

Meanwhile, Tan Sri Dr Ninian Mogan Lourdenadin maintained his position at number 30 with US$470mil (RM1.98bil) to his name. The doctor turned tycoon runs MBf Holdings, a diversified investment group with interests in Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia and the United States.

Several years ago big supermarkets such as Metro, Big C and Coop Mart switched to using environmentally friendly packaging, but less consumers used it because they had to buy it instead of being given it free of charge, Tin Tuc (News) newspaper reported. Plastic bags are still widely used in small shops and markets.

Some firms said it was difficult to sell their products in the retail market, because the prices had to be high. Also, consumers weren’t often willing to change their habits and use more environmentally friendly products.

Similarly, the Ministry of Construction issued a circular on the use of non-baked bricks three years ago, but enterprises selling the product still haven’t found stable footing in the market.

Le Hoai An, director of Khang Minh Brick Company, one of the largest enterprises producing non-baked bricks, said his company has stepped up marketing efforts but they’re still difficult to sell.

There are few firms actively investing in environmentally friendly products, but this figure is still low, said Nguyen Quang Vinh, Deputy Secretary General of Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

There are fewer mechanisms to support firms investing in technology and solutions for the development of environmentally friendly products, he said.

Meanwhile, 98 per cent of Vietnamese enterprises don’t have enough financial resources, human resources and awareness to make it in the market.

In addition, many regulations detailing preferential treatment for environmentally friendly businesses weren’t clear, so firms didn’t know what there was to be gained, he said.

“Vietnamese enterprises will have to face competition and lose market shares not only in the international markets, but also in the domestic market, if they do not make changes and meet market demand when it comes to environmentally friendly products,” he told the newspaper.

The State should add more preferential policies and support firms that produce environmentally friendly products, he said.

“There is no border between agriculture and industry. Smart agriculture will become the symbol of farming in Viet Nam, Japan and the whole world,” Binh said, adding that FPT Corporation will work with relevant organisations and individuals to put smart horticulture into practice in Viet Nam.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat highlighted that applying advanced technology to farming will help Viet Nam set up modern agriculture with a highly competitive capacity. He said that FPT and Fujitsu will realise the goal.

Fujitsu will implement two production facilities including greenhouse cultivation and vegetable factory cultivation in an area of over 400 square metres in Gia Lam District, on the outskirts of Ha Noi. Those two models will introduce trial cultivation for high value-added vegetables, comprising medium-sized tomatoes and low potassium leaf lettuce.

Information and images about the environment and the growing area are monitored and managed not only in Viet Nam but also in Japan, through online information technology systems.

The opening ceremony of the FPT-Fujitsu smart agriculture cooperation centre open yesterday in Hanoi.