Polish minister seeks better bilateral ties

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)