Five more Internet startup companies enter the market

JAKARTA (JP): At least five new on-line services were launched here last week by Internet startup companies following the entrance of dozens others during the past two months.

Two of the new on-line services, such as Warbiz-e.com and ChemRound.com, are offering e-commerce services.

Operator of Warbiz-e.com, PT Warbiz Niaga Indonesia, said the site provided information and on-line trading service for individuals or companies in agribusiness.

The company also announced last week its cooperation with Bank International Indonesia to provide secure on-line transaction service for agribusiness companies that used Warbiz-e.com to order or sell their goods.

ChemRound.com is designed for companies operating in the chemical sector to buy and sell required materials and products through the Internet.

The site was founded by a consortium of Korean-based companies, including SK Global, SK Corp., LG International Corp., LG Chemical Ltd., Hyundai Corp., Hyundai Oil Refinery Company and Hyundai Petrochemical Company.

One of the companies, SK Global, said last week ChemRound.com would also operate in Indonesia to allow local companies to utilize the business-to-business e-commerce service and participate as investors in the on-line project.

Also launched last week was the country's first on-line credit card authorization service provided by PT Cipas Indonesia, an information technology firm jointly owned by PT Rajawali Tri Manunggal and Cipas.com Sdn Bhd of Malaysia.

The company has gotten its first client, a credit card issue company PT Sejahtera MBf Multi Finance.

Credit card holders using Cipas Indonesia's service for their on-line transactions will be charged between 4 and 8 percent of the value of transactions done on the Internet, according to the company.

Another new website launched last week was MedanNIC.com. Its operator, PT Media Antar Nusa of Medan, North Sumatra, stated that the site specialized in providing Internet domains registering service for companies or organizations that wanted to open websites in Indonesia.

Several others websites are expected to be launched next week, including www.indotrade.co.id, which will be launched on Monday by local investment consultant firm IndoTrade.

The company said www.indotrade.co.id would offer specified information on investment, taxation and business regulations in Indonesia.

The site will also provide lists of assets for sale and business project proposals available in Indonesia or abroad for users who are interested in investing their money in new businesses, the company added. (cst)