Bids for telecoms project

Bids for telecoms project

TOKYO (AFP): Three major Japanese trading firms have lodged bids to participate in construction of a large Indonesian telecommunications network, company officials said yesterday.

Mitsui and Co. lodged its bid in partnership with Bell Canada International, Kanematsu Corp. joined with Cable and Wireless plc of Britain, and Tomen Corp. has linked up with Ninex Corp. of the United States.

Other big Japanese trading houses -- Nissho Iwai Corp. and Marubeni Corp. -- are also interested in the project, which has an estimated value of more than two billion dollars, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.

The Indonesian government is expected to choose by March next year five groups to take part in the project.