Carlson, Interact tie up

JAKARTA (JP): United States' Carlson Marketing Group has agreed to form a joint venture with local advertising agency and marketing consultant PT Interaksi Cipta (Interact)

Interact's technical advisor Shalini Gopalan said that he hoped the cooperation would strengthen the company's position in the global market and improve the quality of its human resource.

"A partnership with the world's largest (marketing) company means elevating the professionalism and quality of Indonesia's marketing consultancy companies," he said, adding that for Interact the partnership would mean a challenge to improve.

Carlson's president for the Asia Pacific Gerry Pereira said that the company saw high potential for a marketing consultancy company in Indonesia.

Even though other companies are relocating their base to neighboring countries like Thailand and Malaysia, Carlson would instead make Jakarta the second base of its operations in Southeast Asia after Singapore, he said.

The Carlson Marketing Group includes Regent International Hotels, Radisson Hotels Worldwide, and restaurant T.G.I Fridays. (tnt)