Perhutani firms turn profits

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): State-owned forestry company Perhutani I, which oversees state forests in Central Java, recorded profits of Rp 140.3 billion (US$59 million) last year, up from Rp 137.1 billion in 1995, the company said yesterday.

Vice president Tangsing Soetjipto said revenue reached Rp 362.2 billion last year, including Rp 225.1 billion from domestic sales and Rp 87.5 billion from exports.

He said the company lost around Rp 1.4 billion from timber theft, fires, illegal felling of trees and illegal cattle-raising on forest land last year.

He said the company would try to decrease losses this year by making better inspection of forests and better coordinating related agencies.

Meanwhile, Perhutani II, which oversees state forests in East Java, recorded profits of Rp 153 billion last year, company president Bambang Sardjito said in Surabaya on Monday.

Bambang said company revenues had reached Rp 330.3 billion last year, up from a target of Rp 327.8 billion. In the past year 71 percent of sales came from domestic sales and 29 percent from exports. (har/jsk)