Merpati poor negotiator: Haryanto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto
\nsays Merpati Nusantara, a state-owned domestic air carrier, has
\nperformed poorly in its negotiations with the state-owned IPTN
\naerospace company in Bandung.<\/p>\n
\"I intervened in the bargaining between Merpati and IPTN for
\nthe procurement of 16 CN-235 aircraft. IPTN then agreed to lower
\nthe price from US$13 million to $9.2 million for each CN-235. But
\nfor nearly one year, Merpati has not decided whether to buy any
\naircraft,\" Haryanto told reporters here yesterday after swearing
\nin several executives for companies under the supervision of his
\noffice.<\/p>\n
He said that IPTN will likely raise the price if Merpati does
\nnot respond by November.<\/p>\n
\"I don't want to help Merpati anymore in bargaining. Besides,
\nthe press is sure to object to my actions, saying that I've been
\nmixing in too much,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that Merpati should realize that the CN-235 aircraft
\nwill be beneficial for the company if they are operated properly.<\/p>\n
\"Only one of Merpati's existing 14 CN-235s is not in operation
\nbecause it is being repaired by IPTN. The other 13 aircraft are
\nnow operating six hours per day and earning profits for Merpati.
\nPreviously Merpati complained it was suffering losses because it
\noperated its CN-235s only two hours per day,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Merpati, a subsidiary of the flag carrier Garuda Indonesia,
\nwas criticized by Haryanto earlier for bargaining for the CN-235
\nat an \"unbelievable price\" that would barely cover the cost of an
\nairplane without wings.<\/p>\n
The airline company, which has long suffered from financial
\nproblems, has also signed an optional agreement with IPTN to
\nprocure up to 100 N-250 aircraft.<\/p>\n
New executives<\/p>\n
Haryanto said yesterday that executives of the state-owned
\ntransportation companies are required to have entrepreneurial
\nskills, creativity and innovative thinking to enable them to
\nanticipate various challenges in this era of globalization.<\/p>\n
\"In seaport management, we are facing fierce competition and
\nwe ought to improve our performance,\" he said, adding that the
\ncompanies should also improve efficiency.<\/p>\n
The executives sworn in by the minister yesterday included
\nSyamsul Bachri, who was appointed as president of PT Pelabuhan
\nIndonesia I, the firm which operates ports in Sumatra. Anwar
\nDjanah, Salman Sayuti, Ranendra Dangin and Agus Budi Prajogo were
\nsworn is respectively as president and directors of the state-
\nowned sea freighter PT Bahtera Adhiguna. Darmawan Tas'an,
\nVeronica H. Soeharto and Sofyan Pane were sworn in respectively
\nas president and directors of PT Varuna Tirta Prakarsya, the
\nstate-owned customs document supplier. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/merpati-poor-negotiator-haryanto-1447893297",
"image": ""
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