JAKARTA (Antara): Japanese electronics maker Canon plans to invest in Indonesia following the signing of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) by Indonesia and Japan, Industry Minister Fahmi Idris said.

"Canon representatives said so at a meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Jakarta on Monday. We hope other Japanese companies will follow suit," Fahmi said Tuesday.

He expressed optimism that Japanese companies already operating in Indonesia would further develop their activity in the country under the EPA which would remove unnecessary import duties on Japanese components.

"We hope Indonesia will turn into a Japanese production center and that supporting manufacturing industries in Indonesia will grow as well," he said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe inked the EPA at the State Palace here on Monday. (***)