A number of Southeast Asian companies are reportedly eyeing the construction of cement plants in eastern Indonesia, according to Andi Unggul Attas, president director of PT Semen Tonasa,

Mr Attas told local press that investors from China, Thailand, and Vietnam are targeting the eastern Indonesian market in regards to the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

"The level of cement demand in Indonesia is the highest in Southeast Asia, so naturally everyone has their eyes here," he said in Pangkajene, South Sulawesi, yesterday.

Semen Tonasa spokesman Fajar Sidik said that eastern Indonesia is an attractive market because of its abundant limestone resources.

Companies that are reported to be interested in entering the east Indonesian market include Siam Cement Group, Singapore's Wilmar Group, and China's Anhui Conch Cement Company Ltd. These companies, according to Agung Wiharto, corporate secretary of Semen Indonesia, are mulling markets in Papua to Kalimantan. (Source: PT Tempo Inti Media Harian)