German state's firms seek RI partners

JAKARTA (JP): Executives of 32 companies from Germany's federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg are visiting Indonesia to tap into Indonesia's growing business activities.

During their visit, the companies' representatives are holding a two-day symposium to promote their products and to seek local partners.

The Baden-Wuerttemberg minister of economy/deputy prime minister, Walter Doering, said yesterday the 32 small and medium companies were extremely interested in investing in Indonesia.

Indonesia, with its market economy and high economic growth, is very attractive for investment, he said.

The companies make machine tools, precision tools, manufacturing automation, control systems and optoelectronics, pumps, paper processing machines, packaging machines and construction machines.

"We have recognized that it is absolutely essential for the future of the export of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg that our companies are present on the world's most dynamic markets, to which Indonesia belongs," Doering said.

The symposium at the Jakarta Hilton Convention Center was opened by Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.

The symposium, titled "Technical Symposium Baden-Wuerttemberg. Technology made in Germany", ends today. It was organized by the state's economic ministry and the German-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The symposium has drawn about 800 participants.

"We hope about 12 contracts will be signed at the end of the symposium," the chamber's director Fritz Kleinsteuber said.

Largest

Baden-Wuerttemberg, in the southwest of the Federal Republic of Germany, is the largest of the 16 federal states both in size and with its population of 10 million.

It is one of the economically strongest regions in Europe with key industries including mechanical engineering and its automobile industry.

Some large companies, like Mercedes-Benz, Bosch and Porsche, have their headquarters in the state. The state's economy is, however, driven by numerous export-oriented, small and medium capital goods enterprises.

Through its Landeskeditbank, the state is also financially supporting the foundation of the German Center for Industry and Trade in Bumi Serpong Damai, West Jakarta. The cornerstone of the facility was laid by Doering on Monday. (jsk)