Top firms to maintain business plans despite security risk<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Some of the country's top businesspeople said on Thursday that
\nthey would not cancel their business plans this year despite
\ngrowing concerns over domestic security, in an apparent vote of
\nconfidence for the government's ability to maintain security and
\norder.<\/p>\n
\"We'll not revise our sales target, and we'll carry out our
\nbusiness plans as usual,\" president of the country's second
\nlargest automaker PT Indomobil Sukses International Gunadi
\nSindhuwinata told reporters.<\/p>\n
The company is aiming to sell about 70,400 vehicles this year.
\nIt also plans to expand its plant in Tuban, East Java.<\/p>\n
Gunadi said that the expansion plan was still on track.<\/p>\n
PT Astra International, a publicly listed corporation, would
\nalso conduct business as usual, the company's corporate secretary
\nAminuddin said.<\/p>\n
He applauded the government's swift response to the Marriott
\nbomb blast, and was confident that the authorities would be able
\nto maintain security and order in the coming year.<\/p>\n
The two were speaking to reporters following a two-hour
\nclosed-door meeting between local business players, Coordinating
\nMinister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono and the National Police chief Da'i Bachtiar.<\/p>\n
The top security officials briefed the businessmen about the
\ncurrent security conditions here in the wake of the terrorist
\nbombing at the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, as well as
\npreparations for next year's national elections.<\/p>\n
After the Marriott bomb, there have been concerns that the
\nbusiness sector would put on hold their investment plans amid
\nfears of further terrorist attacks in the country in the near
\nfuture. Such a condition would pose a serious threat to the
\neconomy, which has been struggling to recover from the
\ndevastating impact of the late 1990s economic crisis.<\/p>\n
But following the bomb attack, all government officials seemed
\nto be united in trying to calm down nervous investors. The
\npolice, for instance moved quickly to try to find those
\nresponsible for the bombing, and boost security measures in
\npublic places. The Minister of Finance is also planning a set of
\nmeasures to help revive investment.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the rupiah and the Jakarta stock market recovered
\nquickly from their steep downturns following the attack.<\/p>\n
\"As a businessman, I'm more confident now. In addition to what
\nI've read in the newspapers, the meeting also made me better
\ninformed and clearer about what measures have been taken by the
\ngovernment,\" Aminuddin said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, president of the Surabaya Stock Exchange Hindarmojo
\nHinuri said that Susilo gave three scenarios for next year's
\nsecurity conditions: First, an optimistic scenario with a smooth
\ngeneral election process. Second, a moderate scenario with some
\nmild disruptions during the election period. And third, a
\ndiscontinuation of some government services for weeks or even
\nmonths, as the worst-case scenario.<\/p>\n
\"But of the three scenarios, Susilo believes that it was
\nlikely be the moderate to optimistic scenario,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/top-firms-to-maintain-business-plans-despite-security-risk-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}