Habibie praises Australia

Habibie praises Australia

JAKARTA (JP): Impressed with its technological ability,
Indonesia has asked Australia to develop the Asia-Pacific region
into a "center of excellence".

The call was voiced on Saturday by State Minister for Research
and Technology B.J. Habibie, who is on a ten-day visit to
Australia.

In a televised interview, he also tried to explain why
Indonesia earlier lacked an appreciation for its southern
neighbor's technological advances, opting instead to send
students to western Europe, the United States or Japan.

Indonesia "looks up" to those countries, he said, "because
most top Indonesian scientists and engineers have been educated
in those countries."

Furthermore, "they have been more involved in Indonesian
development by providing capital and technological assistance",
Habibie was reported as saying by the Antara news agency.

The interview will be broadcasted by ATVI international
television this afternoon.

Habibie, who is also the president of the Indonesian aircraft
industry PT IPTN and chairman of the Board of Strategic
Industries, is being accompanied by around 50 officials,
including leaders from his agencies. (swe)