Army to build hotel

JP/msa

JAKARTA (JP): PT Wisma Kartika, a joint venture developer owned by army cooperative INKOPAD and private firm PT Luminary Prima, started building the US$200 million 40-story Westin Jakarta Hotel yesterday.

Wisma Kartika president Freddy Gozali (second left) said the hotel, which will have 500 rooms, was 60 percent financed by a loan syndication arranged by state-owned BNI bank and private bank BDNI.

"The remaining 40 percent of the financing comes from the company's equity," Freddy said at a ceremony led by the army chief Gen. R. Hartono on Jl. MH. Thamrin.

He said the five-star hotel, which will stand on a 13,570 square meter site, would open in early 1999 and managed by Seattle-based hotel operator Westin Hotels & Resorts.

Also attending the ceremony were the Army's special force (Kopassus) commander, Maj. Gen. Prabowo Soebianto, the Army's Strategic Reserves Command chief, Lt. Gen. Wiranto, BNI's president Widigdo Sukarman and BDNI's Commissioner Sjamsul Nursalim. The picture shows (from left) Wiranto, Freddy Gozali, Sjamsul Nursalim, Hartono, Lt. Gen. Sudjasmin and Brig. Gen. Mulyanto applaud after the ceremony. (jun)