IPTN to launch Australian venture
IPTN to launch Australian venture
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto, as patron of the Board for
Strategic Industry Management (BPIS), has approved the setting up
of a joint venture by Indonesia's state-owned aircraft maker, PT
IPTN, and Australia.
"The joint venture will be called either IPTN Technology
Australia (ITA) or Indonesia Technology in Australia and it will
be established after the Idul Fitri holiday next February," State
Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie said over the
weekend.
After meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister/Minister
of Trade Tim Fischer, Habibie said that the joint venture company
will be located in Australia.
He did not mention the capital structure of the joint venture
nor the total investment for the industry.
But he noted that the establishment of the joint venture firm
was aimed at improving Indonesia's aircraft engineering
capability by using human resources in Australia.
Habibie said that this could not be construed as IPTN selling
technology to Australia because the aircraft producer's
Indonesian staff would control the main production unit in
Indonesia.
Initially, the joint venture will operate as an engineering
company, utilizing Australian companies to make airplane
components, such as doors, wings and tails.
Asked about how the preparation of the joint venture
establishment is going so far, Habibie said that IPTN has
demonstrated to Australia its capability to produce the CN-235,
N-250, and N-2130.
Habibie expressed optimism that the planned joint venture will
benefit each country. "Australia will not only benefit from
selling the products on its domestic market, but also from
selling to Indonesia and other foreign countries," he said.
Meanwhile, Fischer, who was accompanied by Australian Minister
of Industry, Science, Technology and Tourism John Moore, said
that his government welcomes the establishment of the planned
joint venture.
"Basically, Australia is widely open for Indonesian companies
to invest in transportation, construction and hitech industries,"
Fischer said. (bnt)