Aussie business group to meet president

JAKARTA (JP): A high-powered Australian business delegation will arrive here on Sunday for a series of meetings, including one with President Abdurrahman Wahid, the Australian embassy said on Friday.

The delegation, headed by John Reid -- chairman of the Australian Graduate Management School of the University of New South Wales and chairman of the Australia Indonesia Institute -- will discuss the future of Australia-Indonesia economic and business relationship during the two-day visit.

Its schedule includes meetings with Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie, Minister for Trade and Industry Jusuf Kalla, and Attorney General Marzuki Darusman, the embassy said in a statement.

The delegation includes Harold Clough of Clough Engineering Group, Doug Anderson of P&O Ports Ltd., Walter Mariani of Americas & Pacific Qantas Airways Ltd and Ron McNeilly of BHP Minerals.

The delegates will also meet with leaders of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the National Business Development Council and the National Economic Council.

Australia is Indonesia's 11th largest source of direct foreign investment, focusing on the mining and financial services sectors, with investments totaling US$902 million from 1967 to 1999.

Two-way trade between Indonesia and Australia in 1999 was worth approximately A$4.9 billion, according to the embassy.

Key imports from Australia include wheat and cotton, while Indonesia exports crude oil and paper products.(10)