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.