Wed, 11 Oct 2000

KONI Foundation to submit business plan

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) Foundation will submit its business plan to the council's executives in ten days following appointment of new officials.

"The foundation will hold fund-raising activities to help KONI finance sports activities in Indonesia. KONI can concentrate on how to improve our sport achievement," the foundation's vice chairman Farid Aidid told a press conference on Tuesday.

"We already have the business plan, but we can't divulge it before presenting the plan to KONI's executives."

Also present were KONI spokesman Ahmed Solihin, the foundation chairman I Nyoman Dhamantra, vice chairman Jodjana T. Djamain, and secretary Connie R.L. Bakri.

Farid said the foundation would work all year to raise more funds regardless of whether there was an event or not.

Currently, KONI's business and industry commission, in which Farid is also involved, handles the funding for sports events.

"With the presence of the new foundation executives, the commission will only set guidelines rather than being involved in the technical aspects," said Farid.

Ahmed said the foundation was established in 1995 in consideration of KONI's financial and technical assistance needs.

"Previously, the foundation's officials were top officials or conglomerates but it didn't work," he said.

"That's why KONI decided to appoint professionals to run the foundation to earn greater yields," he added.

The expectations, however, seemed to be too high considering the executives failure to give a hint of the foundation's business plan.

Nyoman, for example, failed to deliver a solid business plan to help finance the Kuala Lumpur 2001 Sea Games, relying on the government to take up the burden.

"We are waiting for the government to commit to help finance the Rp 100 billion (US$ 11.2 million) Indonesian contingent to Kuala Lumpur," he said.

"We'll use some kind of partnership to realize the target because we have a lot of resources," he added.

Nyoman was then pointing to Indonesia's crude oil production of more than 1.4 million barrels per day as one the financial resources.

"Let's assume the government granted the foundation a grant of 25 US cents for 100,000 barrels per day. It means the foundation can get US$ 25,000 a day," he said.

"That government commitment is important to help finance the contingent. It's impossible to get so much money in such a short period without government help," added Nyoman.

He said the foundation was still selecting lines of business for the future and establishing directions for their business.

When asked about the income target during their four-year tenure, he said the foundation had to follow KONI's program and that those issues were yet to be discussed. (nvn)