Astra signs up partners in Lampung

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)