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News
in Brief, 12 July 2001
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News
in Brief, 10 July 2001
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News
in Brief, 3 July 2001
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Economic
News in Brief, 2 July 2001
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Economic
News in Brief, 13 June 2001
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Economic
News in Brief, 12 June 2001
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News in Brief, 6 June 2001
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Economic
News in Brief, 18 April 2001
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Economic
News in Brief, 4 April 2001
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Economic
News in Brief, 29 March 2001
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Economic
News in Brief, 28 March 2001
ECONOMICS
NEWS IN BRIEF
Indonesia
was asked to join Airbus “superjumbo” A380 Project
Canberra,
12 July 2001,
The
European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company NV (EADS) has asked PT Dirgantara
Indonesia (PT-DI) Indonesia’s aircraft manufacturer to take part in the
production of the Airbus A380 jet plane. According to the Indonesian Minister of
Trade and Industry, Mr Luhut B
Panjaitan the EADS offer is a reflection of the company’s trust and confidence
in the local aircraft manufacturer formerly named Industri Pesawat Terbang
Nusantara (IPTN). He further added that PT-DI based in Bandung, West Java, has
been asked to contribute to work on the tail of the giant 555-seater A380. The
EADS team is expected to visit PT DI in Bandung to view the factory’ capacity
and capabilities.
At
the same time, the Minister announced that Indonesian has also been offered the
opportunity by Spain to be included in a consortium to develop a military
version of the Airbus 400, and in return, Indonesia would be required to assist
in marketing the aircraft. He also revealed that Spain has invited Indonesia
also to build the Cassa 212 entirely in Bandung
(JP).
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NEWS
IN BRIEF
Separatist
rebels kill another police officer in Nabire, Irian Jaya
Canberra, 10 July 2001,
West Papuan separatist
rebels have killed another police in Samoba village, Nabire district. According
to the Irian Police Chief, the killers were believed from the same group who
several weeks ago attacked the police post and killed five policemen and
civilians in Wasior, Manokwari district. Following the killing, the Police vowed
to pursue the killers by deploying all of the remaining personnel that are
stationed in the area.
Meanwhile,
Antara news agency reported from Manokwari that a group of Papua separatist
rebels led by Daniel Awom threatened Wasior residents and forced them to flee
into the jungle. The villagers in Wombu, Wonggema, and Sararti in the hinterland
have begun to flee for the forest. The efforts by the police to pursue the
rebels gained support form the local people as the armed separatists rebels
often disturb the security there.(komp/ant)
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ECONOMIC
NEWS IN BRIEF
Canberra, 4
April 2001
New air link between Taiwan and
N Sulawesi
A deal struck between the governments
of Indonesia and Taiwan to establish an international air link between
Manado, North Sulawesi Province, and Taipei with the aim of encouraging
regional growth has been warmly received in both sides. According to the
Deputy Governor Freddy Sualang, who recently led a North Sulawesi trade
and promotion mission to Taiwan for talks, the new air link was highly
desirable, and particularly for developing the tourism sector. Representatives
of the Taipei Association of Travel Agents have been invited to view the
tourist potential in North Sulawesi.
Japan finances the development
of Weh Island, Aceh
The Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) has pledged Rp 30 billion (about US$3 million) to assist
in the development of the Sabang free port on Wei Island, Aceh. With the
assistance of Japanese consultants, a land use plan had been drafted and
included an industrial zone, trade zone, residential zone, and tourist
area. Funds for the development would be disbursed in April 2001, and development
to commence in early May.
Telkomsel expands networks
Cellular operator PT Telkomsel has
announced a significant upgrade of its service for pre-paid simPati Nusantara
SIM subscriber card holders for calls to Manado, Banda Aceh, Pekanbaru,
Padang, and Pontianak. In the past, because no local numbers were available
in the five cities, callers were charged a roaming fee, as calls had to
be routed through Jakarta. The new service has been supported by the construction
of additional base transceiver stations to ensure strong and clear transmission.
World Bank’s support for secondary
schools in West Nusatenggara
The World Bank has provided aid amounting
Rp 11 billion (around US$ 1.022 million) to build nine secondary schools
in West Nusatenggara province to assist it in coping with a serious shortage
of educational facilities for children of secondary school age. A spokesman
for the provincial education office indicated that there were at present
only 270 secondary schools throughout the province against a total need
of 300.
Investors invited to bid for Jakarta
toll road project
The Indonesian Bank Restructuring
Agency (IBRA) has sought further expressions of interest from investors
to bid for the US$380 million Jakarta Outer Ring Road toll project that
was suspended in 1998 as a result of the Asian economic crisis, despite
the recent appointment of Malaysian consortium DRB-Hicom as the preferred
bidder.
It was expected that the auction,
which will be formally announced in the media, would be opened as soon
as the government issued the operating permit some time this week.
The Jakarta Outer Ring Road Project
was initially scheduled under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangement
with PT Jasa Marga by three companies that was taken over by IBRA after
the three companies failed to pay their debts of about Rp 1.07 trillion
(US$ 99.4 million) to local banks.
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ECONOMIC
NEWS IN BRIEF
Canberra,
29 March 2001
Conoco ships Indonesia's gas production
unit
Indonesiaan pipeline operator PT Conoco
Indonesia Inc.Ltd has announced the expected arrival in Indonesia in early
April 2001 from Korea of a new technologically advanced moveable offshore
gas production unit for use in the company’s development of Indonesia’s
West Natuna Sea Block B Fields.
Once commissioned, the unit will enable
the first export sale of pipeline gas from Indonesia to Singapore. The
first gas, scheduled for July 2001 will be piped to Singapore via the 400-mile-long
West Natuna Transportation System, itself among the world largest sub-sea
pipelines, to a maximum capacity of 325 million cubic feet of natural gas
per-day.
Indonesia has been one of the world’s
largest produces of nature gas resources that exceed 100 trillion cubic
feet.
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ECONOMIC
NEWS IN BRIEF
Canberra, 2
July 2001
An Australian company eyes tourist
potential in North Maluku Province
Mitra Arspiel Company (MAC) of Australia
has indicated its interests in developing marine tourist resorts in Pulau
Bacan and Guraici National Marine Park in Pulau Kayoa, as well as in commercial
fisheries in the Province of North Maluku. According to the speaker of
the local house of representatives, Mr Syaiful Rurai, MAC along with Australia’s
Pacific Blue is planning to invest around US$ 30 million in both the tourism
and fisheries ventures. The decision to develop Pulau Bacan and Guraici
National Park is very appropriate since their location is very strategic,
accessible and rich with marine flora and fauna.
Australia will participate in Bali
Kite Festival
Participants from Australia, Austria,
Japan, Malaysia, and Taiwan will take part in the 23rd Bali
Kite Festival on 5-8 July 2001 along with at least 40 participants from
six provinces (East Java, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, West Java, Lampung and Riau)
and 672 local participants. The participants from those countries would
only enter the exhibition session, while the participants from within Indonesia
will participate in the contest. The Festival would take place in Padanggalak
Beach.
Parliament passed the Bills on
Indonesian Trademark and Patent Laws
The House of Representatives (DPR)
has passed into law new rules governing patents and trademarks, which is
expected to boost foreign investors’ trust and encourage greater domestic
innovation and invention. Indonesia, by so doing, has moved a step forward
in complying with the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects on Intellectual
Property Rights, under the World Trade Organization (WTO)
The new requirement on patents stipulates
the establishment of an independent patent commission and authorises the
commercial court to settle disputes. Violations of patent law will also
now demand a maximum jail sentence of four years and a fine of up to Rp
500 million (US$45,500). For trademarks violations, the new laws set the
maximum fine at Rp 800 million.
Pertamina and Petronas will jointly
market asphalt and LPG
Indonesia’s state oil and gas company
Pertamina is exploring the possibility of cooperating with Petronas of
Malaysia in marketing asphalt and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
The meeting between the representatives
of the two companies recently in Surabaya, East Java was aimed at exploring
the possibility of cooperation in marketing asphalt and opening a LPG outlet
in the neighbouring country. Both sides will cover their cooperation through
a memorandum of understanding which will lay a firm basis for the cooperation.
In the case of asphalt, they will supply it to one another, meaning that
if Malaysia has an oversupply of asphalt while at the same time Indonesia
has shortage, the former will supply it to the latter, and vice versa.
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NEWS IN BRIEF
Canberra,
3 July 2001
Journalists urged the Papua separatist
rebels to release their hostages.
The Committee to Protect Journalists
(CPJ) based in New York has expressed its concern over the kidnapping of
two Belgian documentary film makers, Mr John van Den Eyende and Mr Philippee
Simon by the Papua separatists and called on the abductors to release them
immediately. CPJ considers that kidnapping of the journalists and taking
them as hostages is gross violation of international humanitarian law.
The same concern was also expressed by Indonesia’s Alliance of Independent
Journalists (AJI) and denounced the separatist rebels act as it violates
the Human Rights Declaration which ensures the freedom to obtain information
by the media. AJI is also calling on the Papuan separatists to immediately
release the hostages.
Free Papua Organisation (OPM) rebels
revealed that on June 6, 2001, their leader, Kely Kwalik, kidnapped two
Belgian documentary filmmakers at Jayawijaya mountain range, Irian Jaya,
in the province’s central highlands, and are being held as hostages.
Meanwhile the Indonesian government
in cooperation with the local church leaders, and the Belgium Embassy in
Indonesia is continuing to secure the release of the hostages through negotiation
with the separatist rebels. (Ant/JP/Kor.com./VOA)
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NEWS
IN BRIEF
Canberra,
13 June 2001
Registration
of East
Timorese refugees free from intimidation
The
Chairman of the organising committee for the registration of the East Timorese
refugees in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) Province which includes West Timor has
challenged the claims by foreign NGO’s published in the Sydney Morning
Herald, 7 June 2001 that the East Timorese refugees decided to stay in
Indonesia because they were intimidated during the registration process in
various camps across NTT. He reiterated that it is no point to intimidate them
to stay since it is not in the interests of the Indonesian Government,
especially the local people and the local government, since the presence of
the refugees have created tremendous burdens, financially and socially to
them.
Meanwhile,
foreign observers monitoring the registration have noticed that most of the
refugees voluntarily opted to stay in Indonesia. In spite of the burdens the
refugees have brought about, the government is committed to address this
problem, including resettling them in other part of Indonesia with the support
of international agencies. The Netherlands, the UNDP and the EC were reported
to have already agreed to help Indonesia resettle the East Timorese refugees
Separately,
Xanana Gusmao, speaking from Jakarta where he was a guest speaker in a
seminar on the West Pacific Forum, also welcomed the result and hope that the
Indonesian Government would ensure the success of the resettlement program of
the East Timorese refugees such as relocating them to places in better
condition than those in the refugee camps. Nevertheless, Xanana would welcome
back the refugees should they one day decide to return to East Timor and would
guarantee them with safety.
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ECONOMIC
NEWS IN BRIEF
Canberra,
12 June 2001
Indonesia
remains free of foot and mouth disease and rinderpest
Indonesia
remains one of the countries in the world free of foot and mouth disease and
of other livestock diseases, such as rinderpest, according to the Office
International des Epizooties (OIE) which met recently in Paris.
All
of the participants attending the annual meeting stressed the urgent need for
more concrete action and close coordination between countries to prevent the
further spread of foot and mouth disease.
Making
a special plea, the Indonesian representatives urged all relevant sides to
maintain and respect Indonesia’s disease-free status and avoid exporting
infected meat and its derivative products to Indonesia.
IMT-GT
agrees to empower small, medium business
The
ninth meeting of Senior Officials of member countries of the
Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) held recently in Medan,
North Sumatra, wound up their deliberations by emphasising the empowerment of
small to medium sized businesses as a top priority to help spur the growth of
business activity in the area.
Related
proposals, included a call for each government to create a more conducive
business environment to facilitate trade relations and investment in the area
and, noting that only 34 of the 74 approved projects have been realised, for
the IMT-GT working system to be improved in order to provide for better
business to business cooperation.
In this context it was further agreed to form an implementation and
technical group (ITG) to assist in business cooperation and investment
programs.
Meanwhile,
Sibolga in North Sumatra province and Songkhla city in Thailand are to forge a
sister-city relationship, following the signing of a letter of intent during
that meeting. The aim of the program is to help develop various cooperative
projects, such as in fishery sector investment and in the processing of marine
products, and both sides have expressed their optimism that it will assist in
accelerating economic development at the ports of the two cities.
UNTAET
and Indonesia agree to repatriate rupiah circulating in East Timor
In
view of the decision to adopt the U.S. dollar as the only valid unit of
currency in East Timor, an agreement has recently been signed between the
Indonesian Government and the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET)
whereby all of the roughly US$20 million worth of rupiah still circulating in
East Timor can be exchanged, without having to go through conventional
channels.
Under
the arrangement, UNTAET would collect rupiah from East Timor, and send the
funds to Indonesia via Bank Indonesia’s office in Denpasar, Bali.
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NEWS
IN BRIEF
Canberra,
6 June 2001
The
registration of the East Timorese refugees in West Timor is on the way
In
order to promote the success of the registration of the East Timorese refugees
in West Timor, the Indonesian Government has started to close temporarily the
East Timor and West Timor borders during the registration period. According to
the West Timor Security Task Force Commander, Lt-Col Magna Candra, during this
period people will not be allowed to cross the borders, even if they possess
official documents. To enforce this policy, the Indonesian military task force
and the UNPKF agreed at a recent meeting in Mota Ain, to take stern action
against anyone attempting to cross the border. Such a measure would also prevent
infiltration of the border or from placing the registration process at risk. The
policy to close totally the West and East Timor borders has drawn positive
response from UNPKF.
Some
1600 registration officials plus 80 field supervisors have been stationed in 507
registration centres across NTT Province which include West Timor where the
registration starts today. The registration is conducted to know how many East
Timorese refuges will decide to return to East Timor or to remain in Indonesia.
In
this regard, around 12 foreign
observers have arrived in NTT province in the past day or
two to monitor the registration of refugees living in the camps
throughout the province. The Indonesian Government has so far approved 64
observers to monitor the registration, 32 of them from international agencies.
Meanwhile,
the provincial government in West Timor has from time to time stated that the
East Timorese refugees were a huge burden on the local administration which is
already struggling to overcome the province’s problem of 80 percent of the
populationliving under the poverty line.
(ant/jp/kps/)
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ECONOMIC
NEWS IN BRIEF
Canberra,
18 April 2001
Indonesia
will host Sub-Regional Business Meeting in North Sumatra
The
Indonesian Government in cooperation with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry will host the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT)
Business Meeting in Medan of North Sumatra Province on 6-7 June 2001. The
Meeting is aimed at opening up more direct contact and developing more
business opportunities among business communities not only from ASEAN
countries but also from Japan, Republic of Korea, China, Chinese-Taipei,
Hongkong SAR, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and European countries.
The
participants are expected to explore business opportunities on various sectors
such as Trade and Investment (agriculture, fishery and forestry based
industries, animal husbandry, textile, clothing and footwear, handicrafts,
wood and furniture products, electronics, industrial estate, mining and
energy, and seaport development projects),
tourism (tourist destination development projects, marine tourism and
eco-tourism), and services (venture
capital, labours, and banking sectors).
The
IMT-GT is an inter-governmental effort to promote economic growth through
facilitating free flow of people, goods and services, to share common
infrastructures, natural resources, and also to pursue economic grouping
comprises of four provinces in Sumatra of Indonesia (Aceh, North Sumatra, West
Sumatra and Riau), four states in northern part of Malaysia (Penang, Kedah,
Perlis, and Perlak) and five provinces in the southern part of Thailand (Satun,
Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat).
Further
information could be obtained through:
The
Indonesian Embassy, Canberra (Ph. 02 6250 8600, fax 02 62736017, E-mail
: indonemb@cyberone.com.au
or [email protected]),
Department of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta (Ph. 62-21 381-4211, Fax 62-21 3507950,
E-mail : [email protected])
or IMT-CG Secretariat, North Sumatra Business Council & North Sumatra
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Medan (Ph. 62-61 4535508, Fax 62-61 7867226,
414 7192, E-mail : [email protected]).
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Economic
News in Brief
Canberra,
28 Maret 2001
Handicraft
exports expected to increase
The
National Agency for Export Development forecasts Indonesia's handicraft exports
will surge 15 percent to US$575 million this year from $500 million in 2000. The
forecast was based on an expected increase in demand for the country's products
from Japan. Japan's middle to high-end handicraft market share was going to
increase rapidly from between 20 percent and 25 percent last year.
The
Central Bureau of Statistics recorded that Indonesia exported about $150.3
million worth of handicrafts to the United States during the first 10 months of
2000, or about 35 percent of the country's total handicraft exports.
Singapore accounted for 13 percent, or $53.55 million, of the country's
total handicraft exports between January and October last year. Japan accounted
for 9.7 percent, or $40 million, during this period, England 8.7 percent, or
$35.7 million, Germany 5 percent, or $20 million, and Hong Kong 4.1 percent or
$17.14 million.
Singapore
firm is to set up a garment factory in West Java
The
Singapore-based LY Holding Pte Ltd. will open a garment factory in Majalengka,
West Java Province with the total value of US$900,000.
The factory, which will sell most of its garment products overseas,
expects to hire about 2000 local workers, the statement said. The company
expects annual export revenues of about $17 million.
The
project will be carried out after the company obtained permit from the
Indonesian Government issued by the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore. In 1999,
the government allowed its embassies to issue investment permits as part of its
commitment to improve services to foreign investors.
Citibank’s
new branch is opened in Medan
Citibank
N.A. officially opened its new branch office in Medan, the capital of North
Sumatra, on Tuesday, to strengthen its corporate service in the province. The
opening of Citibank's Medan branch office is a concrete step in demonstrating
our commitment to improving our corporate customer service," Citibank's
country corporate officer Michael Zink said in a statement.
He
hoped the branch would support Medan's potential economic development.
Citibank Medan branch manager Harapman Kasan said that Medan's rapid
business development in the export industries for rubber, cocoa, palm oil and
shrimp, was one of the reasons the company opened its branch office there.
Surabaya
cellular operator to start up next month
Cellular
operator PT Natrindo Telepon Seluler will commence operation of its DCS-1800
global system for mobile communication services in East Java Province next month
with the aim of providing services to 95 percent East Java’s 35 million
population, of which only 1.5 percent currently has access to mobile services.
Natrindo, which trades as Lippo Telecom, will be the first operator to implement
the high-capacity GSM system from seven companies granted licenses two years
ago. The
seven regional operators are Astratel
for Sumatra, AW in West Java, Inti in
Jakarta, Mitra in Central Java, Natrindo in East Java, Primarindo in
Kalimantan, and
Kodel in Bali and Sulawesi. During the first phase the company would
focus on covering the Surabaya-Malang service, and has already set up about 25
base transceiver stations
(BTS) between the two largest cities in East Java.
Mobile systems vendor Ericsson was appointed to set up the network, and
Ericsson's president for Indonesia, Mats
Olson, said that it has invested about $16 million for network
infrastructure such as
BTS, a mobile switching center and base
station controller. Chow said that he expected to attract at least
150,000 customers in the first year, with the majority expected to use Lippo
Telecom’s pre-paid services.
Lippo
Telecom is a subsidiary of Across Asia Multimedia (AAM), which is listed on the
GEM stock exchange in Hong Kong. AAM has an extensive range of businesses in
Indonesia including Lipposhop, Lippo Star, Kabelvision, and Multipolar
Corporation.
(jp/29/3/01)
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