Humpuss to enter Irian

Humpuss to enter Irian

JAKARTA (JP): Hutama Mandala Putra, chairman of the widely
diversified Humpuss Group, said yesterday that his company has
requested 200,000-hectares of land area for plantations in the
Irian Jaya province.

Hutama, the youngest son of President Soeharto who is better
known as "Tommy", told reporters in the province's capital city
of Jayapura that the land will be utilized for either sugar cane
or palm oil plantations.

"We expect that the local administration will soon
appropriate the land so that we can start the investment as soon
as possible," Tommy was quoted Thursday by Antara as saying.

Humpuss will decide whether to invest in sugar cane or palm
oil after a survey of the area, he said.

Humpuss Group currently owns around 30 subsidiaries, while
Tommy is also the chairman of the Clove Marketing and Buffer-
stocking Agency (BPPC). (hdj)