Internet service launched

JAKARTA (JP): Bisnis Indonesia has put its news and database on the Internet in the hopes of increasing its advertising revenues.

Abdul Karim Sudibyo, assistant to the minister of industry and trade, launched the new service in a ceremony here Monday evening.

The new service, called "Indonesia-Interactive Business Information: News and Database", is reachable at http://www. bisnis.com.

Sukamdani S. Gitosardjono, chief commissioner of PT Jurnalindo Aksara Grafika, the publisher of the business newspaper, said the service provides news from the paper, government regulations on business as well as profiles of leading Indonesian businesspeople and companies, including their balance sheets and stock prices.

He said the service will eventually include information on the economy of East and Southeast Asia and bilateral economic relations between Indonesia and countries in the region like China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The information is available in Indonesian and English.

Alexander Irwan, the project officer, said that his company has invested about Rp 1 billion (US$422,000) in the new service, which provides space for advertisements.

"We are optimistic about reaching a break-even point in two years," said Irwan. (jsk)