Cheetam to produce refined salt in RI

NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): Cheetam Salt Ltd. of Australia will form a joint venture with state-owned PT Garam to produce refined salt for human consumption and industrial use in Indonesia.

Cheetam director W.J. Poynton and PT Garam president Imam Hidayat signed here on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which establishes the framework for negotiations to form a joint venture.

"The venture company will produce high quality salt for import replacement and will not compete directly with salt farmers," Poynton said in a statement after the signing ceremony.

"The venture will provide the firm with a strong base for expansion into Indonesia and regional markets."

Poynton also said that the venture would lead to an inflow of foreign capital into Indonesia. However, he did not mention the amount of the possible investment.

Cheetam Salt, wholly owned by Ridley Corp. Ltd., is a major producer and refiner of salt in Australia.

PT Garam is Indonesia's largest producer of salt.

The Australian Trade Commission also on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement with Lippo Bank to promote the economic development of eastern Indonesia.

The terms of the agreement include cooperation programs which will utilize Lippo Bank's network to introduce entrepreneurs in eastern Indonesia to Australian businesses, and vice versa.

"This is part of Australias and Indonesia's cooperation to develop the eastern part of Indonesia," said James T Riady, deputy chairman of the Lippo Group.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer also signed an MOU to improve the performance of Indonesia's Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal).

Under the MOU, Australia will assist Bapedal in managing the environment in eastern Indonesia. The program will involve provincial staffs and local communities in Bali, East and West Nusa Tenggara and East Timor.

Alatas and Downer also signed a letter of intent to strengthen cooperation among young people in the two countries.

Both governments agreed on the implementation of the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program. Under the program, young professionals from Australia with a variety of skills and qualifications will provide services to various Indonesian organizations, with the first volunteers expected to arrive in March.

Alatas and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Tim Fischer also signed an MOU on education and training.

The MOU sets the framework for cooperation across a range of fields, including higher education, vocational education and training, school curriculum development, teacher and student exchanges and the teaching of both the Indonesian and the English language.

Alatas and Fischer also signed a statement of intent on the development of closer ties between the Australian and Indonesian ministries of health.

The statement of intent provides details of a work program for the 1999/2000 fiscal year. The program will focus on building the capacity of the Indonesian health ministry to support the country's health needs. (rid)