Taiwan, RI to discuss rice shipment<\/p>\n
TAIPEI (Dow Jones): Taiwan will begin negotiating next week
\nwith Jakarta authorities about the terms of payment for a
\n200,000-ton shipment of rice to Indonesia, an official at the
\nIndonesian trade office in Taipei said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Next week, we're going to try to solve\" the issue of payment
\nfor the rice shipment that was agreed upon between President Lee
\nTeng-hui and visiting Indonesian officials earlier this month,
\nAhmed Bey Sofwan, vice chairman of the Indonesian Economic and
\nTrade Office in Taipei, said.<\/p>\n
\"We're going to negotiate...and find the best way to finance
\nthe rice,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He didn't rule out speculation that the rice would be financed
\nwith Indonesian oil shipments.<\/p>\n
The National Logistics Agency in Jakarta and Taiwan's Council
\nof Agriculture will handle the negotiations, he said.<\/p>\n
Taiwan hasn't given any other government aid to Indonesia,
\nSofwan, speaking at a press conference coordinated by the Foreign
\nCorrespondents Club, said.<\/p>\n
There hasn't been any financial aid because we don't have
\ndiplomatic ties\" with Taiwan, Indonesia's Sofwan said.<\/p>\n
Sofwan played down local reports that Taiwanese investors
\nsuffered damages in the wake of Indonesia's rioting. He said most
\nTaiwanese factories were spared because they are located outside
\nthe city, where most of the looting occurred.<\/p>\n
He also said Taiwanese investors haven't turned to the
\nIndonesian Economic and Trade Office for official compensation.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know why the Taiwanese are very afraid,\" he said.
\n\"The Indonesian government is concerned about the safety of their
\nfactories. If the factories close,\" there would be unemployment,
\nhe explained.<\/p>\n
Sofwan added that Taiwanese investment in Indonesia is usually
\nin small-and medium-sized enterprises, which create jobs. Those
\ncountries that invest in the high-tech industry or the financial
\nsector usually don't generate jobs for local Indonesians, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Taiwan is the sixth-largest investor in Indonesia, with
\ninvestment totaling US$13 billion, Sofwan said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/taiwan-ri-to-discuss-rice-shipment-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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