Japan compiles new RI aid package

Japan compiles new RI aid package

TOKYO (Dow Jones): The Japanese government hopes to put together a package mapping out the specifics for new aid for Indonesia before the end of this month, the deputy press secretary to Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi said Wednesday.

Asked if there were any references to specific aid measures during Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid's two-day visit to Japan, Akitaka Saiki told a press conference: "The prime minister has said that Japan would spare no efforts in helping Indonesia's nation-building efforts, but the specifics will have to be discussed from now."

He added that if time permits, Obuchi will visit President Wahid in Jakarta before attending a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus three nations to be held in Manila on Nov. 27 and 28.

"We will work on what we can do for Indonesia" before the potential visit, Saiki said.

Regarding the Asean plus three meeting itself, Saiki said that the chairman of the Japan Federation of Employers' Association, or Nikkeiren, is due to present to Obuchi this evening proposals for aid toward the region, which have been compiled by a mission he leads.

The mission consists of business leaders and members of the government, and was set up to study possible projects that Japan and Southeast Asian nations could work on jointly to reinvigorate the region's economy.

"We will ponder the contents of the (mission's) report. I think this will lead to a new package announcement" in Manila, Saiki said.

He also said Japan will bring up the subject of trade in Manila, in particular the benefits the region could gain from assuming an active role in the next round of global trade talks, slated to be launched in Seattle later this month.

"Japan has to assume a certain amount of responsibility as a leader of this economic region," Saiki said, referring to Japan's efforts so far to lure as many developing countries to its side regarding the agenda for the next round of trade talks.