Aussie told to buy RI textile

BANDUNG (JP): Indonesian textile producers have asked Australian businessmen to buy more textiles and related products in a bid to improve trade between the two countries.

Lili Asdjudireja, the chairman of the West Java branch of Indonesian Textile Association (API), said here on Tuesday that Indonesian textile companies, which import most of its cotton from Australia, should be given more access to sell their products in the neighboring country.

Speaking at a meeting with the visiting delegation of the Australian Cotton Shipper Association (ACSA), Lili said the value of cotton imports from Australia reached US$339 million in the 1998/1999 fiscal year, much higher than the $121 million worth of textile products exported to the neighboring country.

Australian cotton fulfilled 50 percent of Indonesia's total cotton needs, Lili said. In 1998 Indonesia purchased one-third of the Australian cotton production.

"Only the East Timor conflict caused a significant drop," he said. (25/sur)