Kadin and German agency sign deal

Kadin and German agency sign deal

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Kadin) and the Hamburg Business Development Corporation (HWF)
signed on Tuesday a cooperation agreement to promote Indonesian
exports to Europe.

HWF project director Bernd Riegerl said the German agency and
the Kadin would work together to develop commercial links by
utilizing the distribution center in Hamburg.

Riegerl said under the agreement the German agency and Kadin
would also jointly provide training programs as well as seminars
to help Indonesian exporters enter European markets.

"Hamburg is the most strategic location to launch businesses
on the European market. It is the gate to enter the West European
market, and even to the developing Middle and East European
markets," he said after the signing of the cooperation agreement.

Riegerl said in addition to providing free consultation
services, the agency would also offer a special package called
the HWF-New Business Incentive Program.

He said under the special program Indonesian companies opening
Hamburg branches would be exempt from paying office rent during
the first six months of their operation.

Riegerl said Hamburg is one of the major ports in Germany and
Europe, and has become a large trading center for 3000 foreign
companies including China, the United States, Scandinavian
countries, Japan and Korea.

He said at least 15 Indonesian companies had established
representatives offices in Hamburg, primarily branches of major
Indonesian trading firms.

Soy M. Pardede, Kadin's vice president, said Kadin would
establish a one-stop promotion and export center called Rumah
Indonesia in Hamburg to facilitate the country's exports.

He also said the cooperation agreement would boost the
country's exports back to pre-crisis levels. (01)