Large groups promise partnership with small-medium enterprises

Large groups promise partnership with small-medium enterprises

JAKARTA (JP): Fifty large Indonesian business groups have
voiced their readiness to join the so-called Jimbaran Club in
fostering partnerships with small and medium enterprises,
Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Subiakto
Tjakrawerdaya said.

"The owners of the 50 groups have wanted to meet us to talk
about partnerships. We will examine their ability and commitment
towards nurturing small businesses," Subiakto said after
attending Monday's ministerial coordination meeting.

Subiakto declined to disclose the names of the 50 groups which
want help develop small businesses and cooperatives, saying he
would reveal their identities only after they had made
significant commitments.

The Jimbaran Club currently comprises of more than 40 large
business groups, including the Astra, Bakrie, Barito, Ciputra,
Dharmala, Djajanti, Gemala, Humpuss, Lippo, Napan, Salim,
Soedarpo and Sandratex groups.

In an informal meeting in Jimbaran, Bali, last year, the
groups pledged their commitment towards helping small businesses
through various programs, including partnerships, worth Rp 2.9
trillion (US$1.23 billion).

Subiakto said the realization of those commitments has been
too slow because "some executives of business groups involved in
Jimbaran have not yet attended Pancasila workshops".

He announced that the government was planning to hold a
workshop on Pancasila -- Indonesia's five guiding philosophical
principles -- for executives of Jimbaran's business groups to
facilitate the implementation of their partnership commitments.

The government has already conducted similar activities for
business leaders involved in the Jimbaran Club. (rid)