Austrian businessmen asked to invest more in Indonesia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
\n(Kadin) has asked Austrian businesspeople to invest more in
\nIndonesia, chairman Aburizal (Ical) Bakrie said yesterday.<\/p>\n
He said the chamber also wanted Austrian businesspeople to
\nhelp locals export to Central and Eastern Europe.<\/p>\n
"Austrian investments are still small here compared to around
\nUS$1 billion made by the Netherlands," Ical said after meeting an
\nAustrian business delegation led by Egon Winkler.<\/p>\n
Austrians invested around $40 million in Indonesia last year
\nin power stations, railway equipment and other things.<\/p>\n
The 20 member trade mission arrived Wednesday for a two-day
\nvisit. The delegation included representatives of Bank Austria,
\ntraining consultancy Vais, steel manufacturer VA Tech, power
\nsupplier Elin and contractor MCE.<\/p>\n
The visit, which ended yesterday, followed up on Kadin's
\nmeeting in July in Vienna, said Winkler, the Austrian Federal
\nEconomic Chamber's director general of foreign trade and European
\nintegration.<\/p>\n
Ical said yesterday that Austria, with a population of about 8
\nmillion, had great potential.<\/p>\n
"That country's per capita income reached $25,000, much more
\nthan Indonesia's $1,000. If it wants, Austria could invest up to
\n$10 billion in Indonesia," he said.<\/p>\n
"The problem is, whether they want to make Indonesia or Asia a
\ncommercial hub in the region," he said, adding that Indonesia
\nshould promote investment more to attract Austrians.<\/p>\n
Ical said Kadin had asked Austria to help Indonesia export to
\nCentral and Eastern Europe.<\/p>\n
"Austria also has expertise in banking and counter-trade
\narrangements," he said.<\/p>\n
During an official visit to Indonesia in March last year,
\nAustrian President Thomas Klestil said his country intended to
\nfocus its relations on Asia, particularly Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Austrian Embassy Commercial Counselor Oskar Andesner told The
\nJakarta Post that his country's two-way trade with Indonesia
\nreached US$415 million last year, up 50 percent on the previous
\nyear.<\/p>\n
He said Austrian exports to Indonesia totaled around $315
\nmillion last year.<\/p>\n
"We are trying to substantially increase our trade and
\neconomic relations between Indonesia and Austria. That's why we
\norganized this meeting," Winkler said.<\/p>\n
The visiting Austrian businesspeople sought opportunities not
\nonly in manufacturing but also in energy, transport, metallurgy,
\nhealth, education, finance, technology and the environment, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Ical said the Austrian delegation expressed keen interest to
\ntake part in the $2.3 billion Blok M-Kota subway project.<\/p>\n
Construction for the 14.5-km subway system is to begin next
\nyear, and is scheduled to be completed in 2001. The project
\ninvolves Itochu of Japan, Siemens and Ferrostal of Germany.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian investors in the project are Ical's PT Bakrie
\nInvestindo, PT Pembangunan Jaya, PT Lippo, PT Bukaka\/PT Kuda
\nPerkasa, PT Suthamthabie and PT Steady Safe.<\/p>\n
Bambang Trihatmodjo, President Soeharto's son, is also
\ninterested in joining Jakarta's first subway project, which will
\nlink Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta. (icn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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