Firms given deadline

JAKARTA (JP): The government has given fishing companies until July 1997 to realize their plans to import fishing boats or it will revoke their purchasing permits or give them to other interested companies.

Fisheries director general, F.X. Murdjijo, said yesterday the Ministry of Agriculture had issued permits for several firms to import 320 used fishing boats, and 18 new ones, after a deregulation package last July.

But only few companies had prepared to import fishing boats, he was quoted by Antara as saying.

He did not say how many boats had been imported or how many companies had not made preparations.

Murdjijo said several companies had canceled their plans so the opportunity would be given to other companies. (jsk)