AriaWest, Siemens tie up

JAKARTA (JP): AriaWest International, the exclusive contract- sharing partner of state telecommunications firm PT Telkom for West Java, has signed an agreement with Siemens Indonesia to build 62,962 new line units in West Java.

AriaWest's president John G. Vondras announced on Monday that Siemens would construct the lines to be progressively delivered and completed by the end of January 2000 under the Rp 65 million (US$8.6 million) contract.

"The signing of the agreement represents AriaWest's commitment to remain in Indonesia for the long term." The company has invested over $390 million and built about 324,000 line units in the region, he added.

AriaWest International is 52.5 percent owned by Artimas Kencana Murni in partnership with MediaOne International BV (35 percent) and the Asian Infrastructure Fund (12.5 percent). (cst)