Polish minister seeks better bilateral ties

JAKARTA (JP): Poland's deputy foreign minister Macyej Kozlowski offered on Thursday exchange of technology with Indonesia as a way of enhancing bilateral relations.

Kozlowski, who arrived here from Malaysia on Wednesday, identified technology for shipbuilding, power plants and aircraft for combating forest fires as the most prospective fields for Poland to assist Indonesia.

He said Poland, one of Europe's largest coal producers, had expertise in constructing coal-generated power plants, including for electrical transmissions.

Kozlowski said Indonesia could increase its exports of agricultural products, such as coffee, palm oil, rubber and pepper, "but Indonesian businessmen are also welcome to invest in other sectors in Poland". He left for Thailand on Thursday.

He acknowledged that trade with Indonesia was still low compared with other nations in the Southeast Asian region.

"But we consider Indonesia as an important partner in the region. Once it (Indonesia) overcomes its crisis, it will be back as an important player in the region."

He had earlier met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas.

After exchanges of trade missions between Indonesia and Poland in 1996, several companies expressed interest in investing in both countries. None of them have realized their plans, said Poland's Ambassador to Indonesia Ksawery Burski.

Texmaco, an Indonesian textile-producing company, for example, planned to build a polyester plant in Poland last year. It signed a memorandum of understanding but there was no further development.

"I don't know why Texmaco did not continue the development," Burski said. "I don't think its problem has to do with raw materials as it can easily get them in Poland." (bnt)