Govt gives ISO 9000 to SMEs

JAKARTA (JP): The Minister of Industry and Trade presented ISO 9000 certificates to 56 small, medium and large scale businesses yesterday.

The certificates were presented by the ministry's secretary- general, Aidil Juzar, and the Minister of Cooperation and Small Enterprises, Subiakto Tjakrawerdaya, to 44 small and medium scale businesses and 12 large enterprises including three state-owned companies.

The certificates were issued by eight local rating agencies, including PT Sucofindo.

The government targets to award certificates to 500 small and medium scale businesses in the sixth Five Year Development Plan which will end in 1999.

The government provides about Rp 10 million (US$833) for each small or medium scale company which participates in the training program for the certification. (das)