Merck expands drug plant

Merck expands drug plant

JAKARTA: Publicly listed drug company PT Merck Indonesia Tbk,
a subsidiary of German firm Merck KGaA, has expanded its
production facilities in Pasar Rebo, Jakarta, to strengthen its
position in the Indonesian market.

The expansion project, which started in 2001 and was recently
completed, absorbed a total investment of Rp 40 billion (US$4.7
million), the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

"This is a clear evidence of Merck's determination to continue
its presence in Indonesia," president director Rudolf G. Stock
said.

Globally and in Indonesia, Merck is well known for its
diabetes and cardiovascular drugs. Its popular drugs include
Concor and Glocophage which are used to treat diabetes and
cardiovascular complaints respectively.

Aside from the above drugs, the firm also produces popular
health care products, such as Neurobion, Sangobion and Evion. --
JP

;AFP;
ANPAf..r..
Brief-HongKong-China
Cathay to start Beijing services
JP/14/brief

Cathay to start Beijing services

HONG KONG: Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways said on
Tuesday it intends to resume services to Beijing from December
after an absence of 13 years.

Cathay Pacific said in a statement it will initially operate
three return services a week between Beijing and Hong Kong.

"Approval for Cathay Pacific to operate services to Beijing
comes amid other initiatives aimed at boosting Hong Kong's
economy and strengthening its links with the Chinese mainland,"
the airline said.

These initiatives included the signing of a free trade deal,
the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), and allowing
mainlanders to visit Hong Kong individually, it said.

Philip Chen, the airline's director and chief operating
officer, described the three services a week to Beijing as "a
very important step, but it still just a start." --AFP

;AFP;
ANPAf..r..
Brief-SKorea-Hyundai
Widow of tycoon takes Hyundai helm
JP/14/Brief2

Widow of tycoon takes Hyundai helm

SEOUL: The widow of the late chairman of South Korea's Hyundai
Group on Tuesday took the helm of the ailing business empire,
Hyundai said.

Hyun Chung-Eun, the wife of the late Hyundai Group chairman
Chung Mong-Hun, inherited the chairmanship of the group when she
was appointed chairwoman of Hyundai Elevator, the group's de
facto holding company.

"The board of directors held a meeting today and appointed
Hyun Chung-Eun, widow of the late chairman Chung Mong-Hun, as
chairwoman of Hyundai Elevator," Hyundai Elevator said in a
statement.

Hyun, 48, inherited a 4.98-percent stake in Hyundai Merchant
Marine from her husband, while her mother, Kim Mun-Hee, has
transferred the voting rights for her 18.57-percent stake in
Hyundai Elevator to Hyun.

Hyundai Elevator is the largest shareholder in Hyundai
Merchant Marine, with a 15.16 percent stake. Hyundai Merchant
Marine has under its wings five companies including Hyundai Asan
and Hyundai Securities. -- AFP

;AFP;
ANPAf..r..
Brief-Australia-telecom
Telstra may expand CSL into China
JP/14/briefs

Telstra may expand CSL into China

SYDNEY: Australia's Telstra Corp. is considering expanding its
Hong Kong-based CSL mobile operations into China despite a drop
in revenues, Telstra chief executive Ziggy Switkowski said on
Tuesday.

The company is also looking to expand its franchise in other
Asian countries, Switkowski said, citing Vietnam, Singapore,
Malaysia and Indonesia as potential markets.

"Getting CSL involved in some way in China is obvious. The
southern part of China has been of interest to us for a long
time," he said, pointing out that it was close to Hong Kong and
the firm had good ties to local carriers there.

"CSL has worked constructively, particularly when it comes to
roaming agreements, with China Mobile and has a good relationship
with China Unicom," he said, referring to two of China's main
telecoms operators. --- AFP