BT helps small businesses

JAKARTA (JP): Bankers Trust Indonesia, the representative office of Bankers Trust, provided a US$140,000 grant yesterday to Bina Swadaya, one of Indonesia's leading non-governmental organizations (NGO), to support the development of small businesses.

Bankers Trust country manager for Indonesia Irwan Habsjah said the grant to be disbursed in two years would be used to finance small businesses in Jakarta, Bogor and Bekasi.

Bina Swadaya president Bambang Ismawan said the fund would be used to finance technical assistance for the community self-help group in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta and Palmeriam, West Jakarta.

The fund would also be used for capital services for small enterprises in Jonggol and Parung subdistricts in Bogor, and Cibarusah subdistrict in Bekasi.

Bankers Trust, a leading financial institution in the United States which has been active in Indonesia for 25 years, has been involved in funding projects which help develop society. (gis)