Astra helps small firms

Astra helps small firms

JAKARTA (JP): The Dharma Bhakti Astra Foundation inaugurated an information center for small industries and organized a business forum of small, medium and big industrial enterprises in Tegal, Central Java, yesterday.

These activities, according to the foundation's executive chairman, Aminuddin, were part of the commitment of the Astra Group to helping develop small enterprises.

Aminuddin noted that the information center is quite important as a source of latest information on marketing and technology that can be used by the small industries operating in Tegal.

"We have set up similar facilities in Solo, also Central Java, in Bandung, West Java, and in Waru Sidoarjo, East Java," he said, adding that preparations are underway for setting up a similar center in West and North Sumatra.

Seventeen subsidiaries of the Astra Group attended the business forum designed to explore business tieups with the small and medium-scale firms.

"Hopefully, this forum will eventually result in procurement deals or sub-contracting arrangements between the big and small firms," Aminuddin said.

The Dharma Bhakti Astra Foundation is the vehicle of the Astra Group to extend financial and technical assistance to small firms. (vin)