Kupang exports cement

JAKARTA (JP): PT Semen Kupang, a state-owned cement plant based in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, will expand its overseas markets into Central Asian countries, the company's executive said.

Company president Satar Taba said in Kupang yesterday the company, which at present exports its products only to Australia, had received orders for 100,000 tons of cement from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

"We receive the orders through a Singapore-based company," he was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.

He said Semen Kupang would appoint PT Taruna Kusan to provide shipping facilities and PT Dharma Niaga to handle the foreign trade as part of its export expansion program.

Satar said Semen Kupang had recently received a new order for about 25,000 tons of cement from a buyer in Darwin, Australia, which previously ordered about 100 tons.

He said he was optimistic that Semen Kupang, which last week received an ISO 9002 certificate from PT KEMA Register Quality of Indonesia, would be able to compete with other cement producers in overseas markets. (hen)