Sofyan to create new forum to replace DPUN<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): Sofyan Wanandi, renowned businessman and former
\nchairman of the now defunct National Business Development Council
\n(DPUN), said here on Tuesday he would create a new forum to
\nfulfill DPUN's unfinished programs and obligations.<\/p>\n
He said the establishment of a similar forum was necessary to
\nenable former DPUN members to realize their targeted working
\nprograms, especially in creating one million jobs.<\/p>\n
He said in its eight months of existence, DPUN had been able
\nto create some 700,000 new jobs in the agriculture sector.<\/p>\n
"It (the new forum) will be pretty similar to DPUN, but with
\nan enhanced dimension and supported by more experts," he said on
\nthe sidelines of a seminar held by the Indonesian Managers
\nAssociation.<\/p>\n
Sofyan said he planned to launch the forum next week and
\nrecruit between 30 and 50 businesspeople from various sectors,
\nincluding local business associations, to run the forum.<\/p>\n
He said that in addition to creating job opportunities, the
\nnew forum would also demand the government allow commercial banks
\nto handle the restructuring of debts of 170,000 medium and small-
\nscale businesses, which are currently managed by the Indonesian
\nBank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).<\/p>\n
"The systems currently used by IBRA are not suitable for
\nrestructuring debts of these kinds of companies. The very small
\nfigure of only 10 percent of the debts that have been
\nrestructured is proof of this," he said.<\/p>\n
He said medium and small-scale businesses should be given
\ndifferent treatment to accelerate the restructuring of their
\ndebts so that they could immediately obtain new credit and start
\noperations.<\/p>\n
Sofyan said the new forum would work closely with the
\nIndonesian Chamber of Commerce and Trade (Kadin).<\/p>\n
DPUN was a group of mostly local tycoons formed by President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid last December. Its main purpose was to give
\nadvice on how businesses could benefit from the policies devised
\nby the government.<\/p>\n
It was disbanded last week along with another of the
\nPresident's initiated economic advisory bodies, the National
\nEconomic Council.<\/p>\n
In a bid to replace DPUN, about 17 export oriented companies
\nand business associations affiliated with Kadin announced last
\nweek the establishment of a new forum to help channel their
\nconcerns to the government.<\/p>\n
The forum -- supported by the Indonesian Textile Association,
\nthe Indonesian Footwear Association, the Association of
\nIndonesian Furniture Manufacturers, the Association of Indonesia
\nIndustry, the Association of Indonesian Pepper Producers, the
\nAssociation of Indonesian Coffee Exporters and the Association of
\nElectronics Manufacturers -- is expected to serve as a pressure
\ngroup to bring to the government's attention problems in the
\nbusiness sector.<\/p>\n
However, several other business associations, including the
\nIndonesian Exporters Association (GPEI) and Indonesian Importers
\nAssociation, said on Tuesday they were against the establishment
\nof the exporters forum.<\/p>\n
GPEI chairman Rudy Lengkong said the functions of DPUN, which
\nhe claims failed to perform its role, would be better taken over
\nby Kadin instead of new forums.<\/p>\n
"We're very pleased with the disbanding of DPUN. Let's not
\nmake more problems with the creation of a similar body," he said.<\/p>\n
He said another forum like DPUN would only make the same
\nmistakes as the council by voicing the interests of only certain
\nbusinesspeople instead of the entire industry. (25\/cst)<\/p>",
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