ASEAN maritime exhibition

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will host the second ASEAN Ports Association Conference & Maritime Exhibition and the 25th annual APA Meeting in Bali from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.

The events are scheduled to be opened by Minister of Communications Giri Suseno and attended by State Minister for the Empowerment of State Enterprises Tanri Abeng, who will also be the keynote speaker.

The executive chairman of APA Conference & Maritime Exhibition 1999, Sumardi, said the events would particularly benefit Indonesia in getting more experience and input in port handling from managers of overseas ports.

"We will also use the events to exchange information with overseas port management, especially on port privatization," said Sumardi, who was also the president of PT Pelabuhan II Surabaya.

Indonesia currently considers inviting foreign investors regarding the privatization of some local ports in a bid to improve the country's ports' services, he said. (cst)