Accenture targets 15% rise in RI revenues

JAKARTA (JP): Global management and technology consulting firm Accenture, formerly known as Andersen Consulting, expects a 15 percent increase in revenues from its Indonesian operation this year, a company executive said here on Monday.

The company's national managing partner Heru Prasetyo said that revenues from Indonesia reached about US$45 million in 2000, with the assumption that each of its 300 workers received average earnings of $500 per day.

He said that the company's expansion into alliance, technology and venture capital services partly attributed to the estimated 15 percent increase in this year's revenue projections.

"We're optimistic of achieving it because we're expanding the company operations," he said.

The United States-based consulting firm, which changed its name this month, previously only provided business consulting and outsourcing services.

Accenture has also budgeted approximately US$300,000 in 2001 to promote its new name in Indonesia. This figure is one percent of the company's total expenditure on image promotion worldwide.

During 2000, the company succeeded in attracting several major clients including Lippo Group subsidiary LippoShop, the state- owned company PT Telkom, and an Argentinean oil company operating in Indonesia, Maxus YPF.

The name-change followed an international independent arbitrator's ruling in August last year in favor of Andersen Consulting, settling its dispute with Andersen Worldwide and Arthur Andersen.

Under the term of the ruling, Andersen Consulting was excused from any further obligations to Andersen Worldwide and Arthur Andersen, including an obligation to make termination payments, and was given until Dec. 31 to adopt a new trading name.

Accenture was selected after an intensive three-month research and analysis process involving thousands of prospective names, the consulting firm said.(05)