Beatrix visits shipbuilding plant PT PAL
Beatrix visits shipbuilding plant PT PAL
JAKARTA (JP): Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands visited the
state-owned shipbuilding company PT PAL in Surabaya yesterday
before ending her two-day visit to the East Java province.
Beatrix, together with her husband Prince Claus and Crown
Prince William Alexander, was received by State Minister of
Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, who then informed her about
the company's development. Habibie also told her about the
general development of a number of strategic industries, which
include aircraft manufacturing.
"It's through these strategic industries that Indonesia
strives to master the advanced technology," Habibie was quoted by
the Antara news agency as saying.
The queen was reported to be very keen and posed a number of
questions to Habibie who, speaking in English and Dutch, was
explaining the utilization of foreign loans in the company's
development projects.
The queen also toured various spots in the company's compound
and watched the construction of Rapid Patrol Ship FPB 28 and the
Laser-radiated steel cutter. She also visited the company's
training and education center.
A number of officials joined Beatrix's tour around the Tanjung
Perak port later on in the day, including Minister of
Population/Chairman of the National Family Planning Board Haryono
Suyono, and East Java Governor Basofi Sudirman.
Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Hans van Mierlo, Indonesian
Ambassador to Dutch Kadarisman and his counterpart P.R. Brouwer
were also present.
Antara also reported on a business contract signed during the
queen's visit.
Dutch company Seatrade Groningen B.V. ordered four "Reefer
Pallet/Container Carriers" ships for its operational fleet. The
procurement contract was signed on Wednesday by PT PAL's
Commercial director Suleman Wiriadidjaja and Seatrade
representative Marmix J. van Overklift.
The queen and her entourage, on board a Fokker 28 PH BBX, then
left for Yogyakarta at noon to visit the world-famous Borobudur
and Prambanan temples.
Today Beatrix will travel to Manado in North Sulawesi. On
Sunday she will attend a church service conducted in Dutch.
The religious service will be attended by the local elderly
who are still fluent in Dutch. They will also accompany her
during her stay in North Sulawesi.
She will then visit the village of Woloan, where she will
witness the construction of a Minahasa house.
From Manado the Dutch monarch will continue her journey to
Balikpapan then Palembang and finally to Padang, from where she
will depart Indonesia next Thursday.(imn)