Pura denies collusion reports<\/p>\n
KUDUS, Central Java (JP): Paper printing, processing and
\nengineering business Pura Group denied media reports that it had
\ncolluded with officials of Bank Indonesia and the state-owned
\nmoney printing company PT Peruri in winning the US$7 million
\ncontract to supply banknote paper to the money printing firm.<\/p>\n
\"The Pura Group has no special ties either with the central
\nbank or Peruri and it won the project because PT Pura Barutama,
\nthe group's subsidiary, offered the lowest price in the bid,\"
\nEvie Casino, the group's spokesperson, said here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Evie made the statement in response to media reports that the
\nbusiness group had colluded with officials from BI and Peruri to
\nsecure the project.<\/p>\n
The alleged unfair business deal has raised questions about
\nthe quality of the paper used in the production of the country's
\nbank notes at a time of growing public concern over counterfeit
\nmoney.<\/p>\n
She said Pura won the contract after outbidding other bidders
\nincluding nine foreign companies at the tender launched in
\nNovember last year.<\/p>\n
\"The quality of our samples is also better than the ones
\nprovided by the nine foreign companies and the price we proposed
\nwas far lower than they offered. We are prepared for a possible
\ninvestigation by the Police or the Attorney General's Office into
\nthe alleged collusion,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The nine foreign companies that joined the bid included
\nLoenthal (Germany), Portal Ltd. (Britain), Tunba Brup (Sweden),
\nCrane & Co. (USA) and Arjo Wiggins (France).<\/p>\n
Pura's operations director Mulyono said the company, which was
\nestablished in 1970, has successfully developed a sophisticated
\npaper and offset technology system to produce security hologram
\nand hot stamping foil, security printing and security banknote
\npapers.<\/p>\n
\"So far, Pura has obtained 14 patents in paper processing,
\npaper converting, offset printing and engineering,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Most state and private banks' security papers are printed by
\nPura, he claimed. He also said that 80 percent of cigarette
\nfactories, pharmaceutical companies and consumer goods producers
\nhave entrusted the company to manufacture their products'
\npackages.<\/p>\n
\"Packaging of national and international products' brands such
\nas L'Oreal, Revlon, Coca Cola, Gudang Garam, Dji Sam Soe,
\nGillette, Philips, Kalbe Farma, Pfizer and Bayer are produced
\nhere,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said Pura in cooperation with four companies from China has
\nalso developed hologram technology to avoid falsification in
\ntheir products, especially security and banknote papers.<\/p>\n
\"With the hologram and paper processing technology, Pura has
\nbeen entrusted to supply Rp 1,000 and Rp 5,000 note paper to
\nPeruri and to print Somali shilling,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Export<\/p>\n
He said that Pura has also exported its security papers to the
\nPhilippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Myanmar and the United Arab
\nEmirates (UAE) and has sent its offset machines to Malaysia,
\nChina and Iran.<\/p>\n
Asked about its staff training, Mulyono said the company
\nemploys no expatriates and has sent its staff to undergo
\nintensive training programs in developed countries such as the
\nUnited States, Germany, Britain and Sweden.<\/p>\n
\"Ten percent of Pura's staff from its 8,000 employees, mostly
\nlocal people, have undergone expert training,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Eddy Soesanto Soewandi, the company's finance director, said
\nthe company was considering selling a small part of its shares to
\nthe Kudus local administration and possibly to its workers, to
\nmeet political interests in face of the imminent implementation
\nof regional autonomy in January.<\/p>\n
\"Political support from the local administration is needed to
\nmaintain the presence of the company with its Rp 1 trillion in
\ntotal assets. We want to contribute not only our tax payment but
\nalso a part of our profit to the local administration,\" he said.
\n(rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pura-denies-collusion-reports-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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