Soeharto sets up team for info superhighway<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has set up a team comprising
\n14 cabinet ministers to help usher Indonesia into the information
\nsuperhighway era.<\/p>\n
The team, headed by Coordinating Minister for Production and
\nDistribution Hartarto, was founded by Presidential Decree No. 30
\nissued July 31.<\/p>\n
It aims to find synergy between the information and
\ntelecommunications sectors, or what the decree terms Telematika
\nafter the Indonesian words Telekomunikasi and Informatika.<\/p>\n
\"The team will draw up policies to develop Telematika and
\nmonitor its progress,\" Hartarto said in a written speech to open
\nthe Indocomtech 97 computer exhibition.<\/p>\n
In the speech, read by his assistant Ikhyar Musa, the minister
\nsaid a concerted effort was needed to tap the potentials of the
\ninformation superhighway.<\/p>\n
Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave was
\nappointed deputy chairman of the team. Other members are state
\nminister of research and technology, minister\/state secretary,
\nminister of home affairs, minister of defense and security,
\nminister of information, minister of finance, state minister of
\nnational development planning, minister of trade and industry,
\nminister of education and culture, minister of manpower, state
\nminister of administrative reform and minister of investment.<\/p>\n
The team will also handle the Nusantara 21 megaproject to
\ndevelop the nation's infrastructure in telecommunications,
\nmultimedia and information technology.<\/p>\n
Under the N21, six information broadband rings will be built
\nin Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Maluku\/Iran, and Nusa Tenggara.
\nThey will be connected to Indonesia's Palapa satellites.<\/p>\n
The project is likened to the ONE project being developed by
\nSingapore and the MSC by Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Indocomtech 97, which concludes Monday, showcases the local
\ncomputer industry.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Computer Business Association (Apkomindo),
\nwhich organized the exhibition, appealed to its members yesterday
\nto keep the increase in computer prices to the minimum so as not
\nto discourage people from buying.<\/p>\n
Dealers have been under pressure to raise their prices because
\nof the rupiah's recent depreciation against the dollar.<\/p>\n
The local computer industry is still largely confined to
\nassembling imported components which were purchased in dollars.<\/p>\n
Some dealers have said they would increase prices by between
\n10 percent and 20 percent.<\/p>\n
About 110 companies are taking part in the exhibition, which
\nis expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors. (08)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-sets-up-team-for-info-superhighway-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}