Naisbitt predicts good times for Asia

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)