Switzerland invites RI to boost trade<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A Swiss delegation led by Federal Councillor
\nJean-Pascal Delamuraz ended its first five-day economic mission
\nyesterday, inviting Indonesian businessmen to increase exports to
\nits country.<\/p>\n
Delamuraz told reporters here that Indonesia, which suffers an
\naverage annual trade deficit of US$200 million with Switzerland,
\ncan increase its exports to that country, which will cut import
\ntariffs for industrial products, when the new General Agreement
\non Tariffs and Trade (GATT) comes to affect early next year.<\/p>\n
During its visit here, the delegation met with President
\nSoeharto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, State Minister
\nof National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita and
\nCoordinating Minister for Industry and Trade Hartarto.<\/p>\n
According to the new GATT, developed countries, including
\nSwitzerland, are required to cut import tariffs by 33.3 percent
\nfrom their current levels.<\/p>\n
Delamuraz, however, warned that Indonesia should increase the
\ncompetitiveness of its products, if it wants to compete in the
\nSwiss market, which will be open for every GATT member country.<\/p>\n
In a joint press conference with Hartarto yesterday, Delamuraz
\ncongratulated Indonesia on its efforts to ratify the new GATT.<\/p>\n
Today, the House of Representatives is expected to approve a
\nlaw supporting the establishment of the World Trade Organization
\n(WTO), which will administer the new GATT, in a plenary session.<\/p>\n
"It serves as a very good example for the Swiss parliament and
\nSwiss people," Delamuraz told journalists, referring to
\nIndonesia's quick ratification of the WTO.<\/p>\n
Delamuraz and Hartarto yesterday witnessed the signing of a
\ncooperation agreement between the Bandung Institute of Technology
\nand the Institute of Technology St. Gallen-Switzerland on a
\nfellowship program for "reverse engineering."<\/p>\n
Reverse engineering is a scientific analysis of existing
\nproducts, which is used to create new products which will be
\nbetter, cheaper and more market oriented. (rid)<\/p>",
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