Go global, phone firms told

Go global, phone firms told

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications
Joop Ave yesterday urged Indonesian telecommunications firms to
seek jobs in other countries in cooperation with foreign
partners.

"It's time for us to get involved in the development of
overseas telecommunications projects," Joop said in a ceremony
for the signing of an agreement on the equity participation of
the state-owned PT Telkom in PT Aplikanusa Lintasartha.

Lintasartha was established in 1988 by Indosat, private banks
and a number of foundations and cooperatives to develop several
telecommunications projects in cooperation with Telkom.

By injecting fresh funds of Rp 12 billion, Telkom now controls
a stake of 25 percent. Indosat 18.8 percent, while the remaining
shares are owned by cooperatives and foundations affiliated with
the telecommunications firms and state-owned banks.

Joop said the country's telecommunications firms have been
capable of competing against international companies to win
projects overseas.

Indonesian telecommunications firms have been involved in
several projects in developing countries, including Indochinese
nations.

Indosat, the international telecommunication operator, for
instance, recently won a bid to carry out a $15 million
refurbishment of Cambodia's telephone networks. (icn)