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)