Govt expands poverty alleviation program JAKARTA (JP): The government is embarking on a program to stimulate the emergence of new entrepreneurs in a bid to reduce poverty in the country. State Minister of Population Haryono Suyono and Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo singed a memorandum of understanding to develop small-scale industry and traders in rural areas. Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto witnessed the signing yesterday.

Boiler plant in Surabaya JAKARTA (JP): PT ABB Energy Systems Indonesia (ABB ESI) -- a boiler producer partly owned by ABB of Germany and its two Indonesian partners, the state-owned ship building firm PT PAL and PT Barata Indonesia -- has started production. ABB ESI president Wisnoentoro Martokoesomo said in Surabaya yesterday that the company is now manufacturing a number of boilers ordered for the combined-cycle Paiton I, II, III and IV power plants.

Legal aid foundation to hold talks to end rift JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) will bring together its activists from across Indonesia next week for a "national dialog" to end its protracted leadership rift. The foundation's secretary general Aswab Mahasin said the dialog will be held from May 8 through 10 at a venue to be decided in a few days.