Naisbitt predicts good times for Asia

JAKARTA (JP): John Naisbitt foresees a great future for Asia in the coming decades.

Coming from the author of the bestselling books Megatrends and Global Paradox, such an assertion carries strong weight.

Naisbitt is in town this week for a lecture and a series of meetings with Indonesian officials and experts in economics. He is also here to discuss his next book, Megatrends Asia, which will be published early next year.

Last night, Nasibitt (center in photo on left), a regular columnist for the New York Times, hosted the John Naisbitt Live Talk Show at the Jakarta Convention Center. The event drew government officials, chief executive officers and diplomats, among them economist Dorojatun Kuntjoro Jakti (left in photo) and Fuad Abdal (right in photo) of the Bimantara Group.

Earlier yesterday, Naisbitt met with Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono at the State Secretariat, during which he praised the leadership of President Soeharto and the government's economic policies that rely on market forces.

The futurologist politely avoided reporters' questions about Soeharto's future, on whether or not he would stay in power after 1998, saying that he was more interested in the economic development of Asia.

Naisbitt's visit, arranged by PT Mutiara Datta Caraka, has been timed to coincide with Indonesia's 50th independence anniversary.

The company's president, Mutiara Farida, and Dorojatun Kuntjoro Jakti, accompanied Naisbitt during the courtesy call to Moerdiono.

Today, he is scheduled to meet with Coordinating Minister for Industry and Trade Hartarto. (emb)