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)