Astra signs up partners in Lampung

JAKARTA (JP): The publicly-listed auto maker PT Astra International signed partnership agreements yesterday with several small businesses and cooperatives in Lampung, the southernmost province of Sumatra.

The partnership agreements, under the "Jimbaran Declaration" to encourage partnerships between conglomerates, small businesses and cooperatives, were signed in Bandar Lampung, the capital of Lampung, by representatives of Astra's social foundation Yayasan Dharma Bakti Astra, the BPLP Hajimena training center for field supervisors, Koperasi Cipta Bangun Usaha, PT Bank Federal and Auto 2000.

Astra vice president Benny Subianto said at the signing ceremony that BPLP Hajimena and Yayasan Dharma Bakti Astra would provide a two-year training program for the field supervisors who will focus on transferring farming technology to the small business and cooperatives.

Astra plans to donate a Daihatzu mini bus, several farm machines and office equipment to the training center.

Under another partnership program involving Koperasi Cipta Bangun Usaha, the foundation will provide technical assistance while Auto 2000 will donate a truck and spare parts. Bank Universal will financially support the program.

Astra is one of about 100 conglomerates which signed the Jimbaran Declaration late last year. The declaration states that the conglomerates will form partnerships with small businesses to try to alleviate poverty and narrow the gap between large and small businesses. (alo)