BBI told to stop making hoes

BBI told to stop making hoes

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has asked state-owned
engineering company PT Boma, Bisma, Indra (BBI) to stop producing
hoes to avoid a direct competition with small companies.

Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Subiakto
Tjakrawerdaya said that BBI should focus its activities on the
production of machinery equipment.

"The company no longer needs to produce hoes because small hoe
makers can make good quality ones," the President was quoted by
the minister as saying.

Speaking to reporters following a meeting with the President,
Subiakto said BBI started producing hoes several years ago due to
the shortage of good quality hoes.

Small hoe makers recently complained to the President that
they could not sell their products due to the competition from
the firm.

Subiakto was quoted by Antara as saying that the President has
asked BBI to concentrate on giving technical assistance to small
hoe makers, providing raw materials to them, and helping them
distribute their products. (jsk)