Britain vows support for Indonesian economy

Britain vows support for Indonesian economy

JAKARTA (JP): Encouraged by efforts taken by the government to
rebuild the economy and promote democracy, Britain pledged its
continued support on Wednesday.

Visiting British trade minister Richard Coburn also voiced
support for the new Cabinet of President Abdurrahman Wahid,
especially the economics team, telling a media conference that he
believed it could carry out its job.

Coburn earlier met with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri
and had breakfast with Coordinating Minister for Economy Rizal
Ramli.

During his three-day meeting which ends on Thursday, he also
has scheduled meetings with Minister of Industry and Trade Luhut
B. Panjaitan, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo
Yusgiantoro and Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"We stand ready to give help in a number of areas on the whole
problem of privatization and commercialization, since we have
experts who will come next week to help the economic team,"
Coburn said, explaining his meeting with Rizal.

Britain is also looking for investment opportunities,
including in the areas of oil and gas, telecommunications and
education, he said, stressing that these would focus on small and
medium-sized enterprises.

Coburn said small and medium-scale entrepreneurs could benefit
from British education in acquiring the necessary skills.

"There is a great desire from us to get small and medium
entrepreneurs to have the capability to compete through
knowledge-based industries," he said, adding that links between
British universities and there alumni here had already been
established.

Coburn also underlined that no British companies operating in
Indonesia pulled out of the country during the economic crisis
that began in 1997.

At the media conference, the minister was accompanied by
British Ambassador to Indonesia Richard Gozny, vice chairman of
Indonesia Development Group Scott Yonger, and chairman of the
British Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and
Industry Suryo B. Sulisto,

The Development Group is a business network linking business
players, mainly from the private sector, in many countries. The
Development Group was established three months ago in Indonesia,
with Suryo as its chairman. (02)