Germany's Hagen, Yogyakarta open partnership office

Germany's Hagen, Yogyakarta open partnership office

JAKARTA (JP): The chambers of commerce and industry of
Yogyakarta and Hagen of Germany, opened a partnership office in
Yogyakarta last week.

Documents marking the opening of the office were signed by the
chairman of the provincial chamber of commerce Sri Sultan
Hamengkubuwono, and the head of Hagen's chamber of commerce,
Harald Korte.

German Ambassador Heinrich Seemann, prominent businessmen of
both countries Aburizal Bakrie and Runar Enwaldt also attended
the ceremony.

Sri Sultan said he hoped the partnership office would be able
to support vocational training, economic surveys and other
business activities in the province.

"Hopefully, it will stimulate economic growth in Yogyakarta.

"Yogyakarta has qualified human resources to support
investment in high-tech industrial sectors," he said. "Starting
from designing, engineering, manufacturing, operating and
installing."

The project is aimed at matching business partners and
gathering information on foreign markets.

The deputy chairman of Yogyakarta's chamber, Hari Dendi, said
his organization would launch a campaign in August to promote
local products throughout the archipelago, Southeast Asia,
Germany and Europe to woo investors from those areas.

Andreas Gosche has been appointed second expert and project
coordinator at the partnership office.

The project is financed by the German Federal Ministry of
Economic Cooperation with about DM502,400 (US$309,405).

According to a report released by the partnership office, the
trade volume between Indonesia and Germany in 1996 increased by
6.5 percent to DM7.22 billion. Exports to Germany increased by
18.5 percent in 1996, totaling DM3,3 billion, while imports of
goods and services decreased by 4.6 percent to DM3.91 billion.

Indonesian exports were mainly textiles and clothing, shoes,
rubber, furniture, mineral and agricultural raw materials.
(23/10)