German consulate in Surabaya

SURABAYA: Germany will open a permanent consulate in the fast growing industrial city this year, German Ambassador Heinrich Seeman said here yesterday.

Germany is yet to select personnel to man the office, the ambassador announced after meeting with governor Basofi Sudirman.

He said Bonn considers East Java one of Indonesia's economic growth centers with which Germany has major business interests.

For example, Germany's Siemens heavy industry has invested about US$1.7 billion in the Paiton steam power plant project in Probolinggo, Antara said.

Germany cooperates with the state-own shipyard company PT PAL Indonesia.

"The consulate is expected to facilitate more German companies when investing in the area," the ambassador said. (pan)