Austrade opens in Medan

JAKARTA (JP): Australia plans to open a regional office of its trade promotion body, Austrade, in Medan, North Sumatra, to serve the rapid increase in trade with the province.

Australia's ambassador to Indonesia, John McCarthy, said in Medan yesterday that Austrade was scheduled to open in North Sumatra's capital in October.

"Australian business activities have been growing in North Sumatra following the rapid increase in the province's economic activities," McCarthy said after opening a steel building products plant of PT BHP Steel Building Products Indonesia, a subsidiary of Australia's widely diversified Broken Hill Proprietary.

Australian investment in Indonesia has reached a total of US$3 billion in various sectors like mining, steel and oil exploration, McCarthy said as quoted by Antara. (icn)