New Australian consul in Medan

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Australia opened its second consulate in the country on Thursday in this provincial capital.

Australian envoy John McCarthy installed Fraser Cargill as the new consul. The reception was held on the Australian naval ship, HMAS Brisbane, at the Belawan port. Guests included North Sumatra governor, Rizal Nurdin, chief of staff of the Bukit Barisan military command Brig. Gen. Djibut Hindarto and representatives from other countries.

Cargill has been the manager of the Australia Center here since 1994. Australia's other consulate is in Bali.

McCarthy said Friday other consulates would be opened in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan; Surabaya, East Java; Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara; Ambon, Maluku and Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.

McCarthy said that the consulate was expected to facilitate trade, education and investment planning, and that his government was looking to long-term prospects despite the crisis.

"North Sumatra is one of the biggest student market places from Indonesia," he said. A special information center will be set up because of the increasing requests for information on study in Australia, including vocational studies. (21/27)