Indosat lanches expansion of non-core business projects<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the country's political and economic
\nuncertainties, publicly listed international telecommunications
\nfirm PT Indosat launched on Friday its fourth non-core business
\nproject in two months.<\/p>\n
Indosat president Tjahjono Soerjodibroto said the firm's
\nspending for non-core business activities had not been affected
\nby the turbulence in the country.<\/p>\n
\"It's business as usual for us,\" he told The Jakarta Post on
\nthe sidelines of the launching of an Indosat TV program. The
\nlaunching was also attended by Minister of Education and Culture
\nJuwono Sudarsono.<\/p>\n
The TV program, called Indosat Galileo, will present a popular
\nscientific quiz to be aired by the private Surya Citra TV station
\nevery Sunday starting on May 2.<\/p>\n
The name of the program was taken from the Italian astronomer
\nand physicist who invented the telescope in 1609.<\/p>\n
Tjahjono said the spending was not a direct profit-oriented
\ninvestment.<\/p>\n
\"We want to build an image of Indosat as a firm which cares
\nabout education, science and technology,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that it was not a measure to counter the increasingly
\npopular music TV program and adventure TV serial launched by PT
\nSatelindo, Indosat's only competitor.<\/p>\n
Indosat has launched several cooperation agreements over the
\npast two months.<\/p>\n
The company agreed on Wednesday with Bank Bali and PT Jatis
\nEnterprise Integration Consulting to develop an Internet-based
\nshopping service.<\/p>\n
Last month, Indosat also agreed with retailer PT Matahari
\nPutra Prima and local cosmetics maker Martha Tilaar to engage in
\nan electronics venture.<\/p>\n
Indosat was one of the state companies initially to be
\nincluded in the government privatization program in the 1998\/1999
\nfiscal year, but was later postponed to the current fiscal year
\npartly due to a regulations snag.<\/p>\n
Tjahjono said the bidding process for Indosat would start
\nafter the new telecommunications bill is approved by the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
Reports said earlier that three international
\ntelecommunications giants, including Australia's Telstra and
\nFrench Telecom, have shown interest to take up the government
\nstake in Indosat.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's general election scheduled for June 7 is expected
\nto be the country's first open and democratic election after more
\nthan 32 years under the authoritarian rule of former president
\nSoeharto. Many people fear increasing bloody unrest in the run-up
\nto the election, which could prompt a massive exodus.<\/p>\n
Analysts, however, said Indosat would enjoy a big increase in
\nincoming calls if a great amount of people do leave the country.
\n(rei)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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