More Batam firms to get ISOs

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned PT Surveyor Indonesia's representative office in Batam has targeted at least 12 local companies to get ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 certifications this year for their quality management and environmental quality management.

The company's branch office manager, Dadang Yogaswara, said Surveyor Indonesia (SI) would continue in its efforts to have more companies in the area receive ISO certifications.

Batam is the country's largest industrial zone.

"Companies will need quality certifications to compete in the free trade era and they will be demanded to maintain their quality management," he said.

SI previously carried out pre-shipment inspections on imports to Indonesia in cooperation with the Geneva-based Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS). The government changed its function to an ISO certification issuer following changes in the country's customs regulations.

SI issued ISO 14000 certifications to seven Batam-based companies last year in cooperation with international certification agencies SGS, BVQI and Lloyd Register. (gis)