Ministers inaugurate projects in E. Timor

DILI, East Timor (JP): Two ministers inaugurated 13 projects in East Timor on Saturday, including a textile factory, a salt- processing plant and several public facilities.

The state minister of investment, Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo, opened textile maker PT Dili Text and PT Garam Manatuto's iodized salt making plant.

The minister of foreign affairs, Ali Alatas, opened 10 projects being carried out by the Ministry of Public Works and one by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

The ceremony was held at a textile factory in Bebora, West Dili, and attended by Udayana Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Abdul Rivai, East Timor Governor Abilio J. Soares, provincial council chairman Antonio F. Parada, Dili's General Vicar Mgr. Jose Antonio Da Costa, local Military Command chief Col. Mahidin Simbolon and East Timor Police chief Col. Yusuf Mucharam.

Sanyoto said the idea of building PT Dili Tex came from a workshop on Nusa Tenggara and East Timor attended by 35 Jakarta business people in September, 1994.

Sanyoto said that during that workshop President Soeharto's daughter, Titiek Prabowo, asked guests to give donations to the children of those who fought for Indonesia's integration of East Timor.

Sanyoto said Rp 100 million (US$41,700) was immediately collected.

But one businessman said that instead of giving a donation, he would hand over 50 textile-manufacturing machines.

"In a relatively short period of time, Mr. Marimutu Sinivasan and Mr. Manimaren from PT Texmaco Jaya accomplished this. After a series of technical, legal and administrative preparations, PT Dili Tex was established," Sanyoto said.

Sanyoto said Dili Tex would make 90,000 yards of woven cloth a month and employ 122 people when it reached full capacity. It has started with 40 employees.

These 40 people have been trained at Central Java factory.

Dili Tex cost Rp 4.78 billion to set up and its president is Gil A.N. Alves, who is from East Timor.

Fifteen more East Timorese will soon be sent to Texmaco's Central Java factory for training.

Garam Manatuto, built on 12 hectares in Manatuto, will make 1,500 tons of iodized salt a year.

The factory cost Rp 830 million to build and will employ 40 people.

Ali Alatas opened 11 public facilities worth Rp 39.91 billion, including irrigation facilities, roads, bridges, clean water management facilities, housing estates and education facilities. (33/pwn)