Possible Australia-RI hi-tech cooperation seen

Possible Australia-RI hi-tech cooperation seen

CANBERRA (AFP): A strategic partnership among Australia,
Indonesia and Japan could be set up to develop a major commercial
airliner, Indonesian Minister for Research and Technology B. J.
Habibie said here Tuesday.

In what he indicated could be a first step towards the
partnership, Habibie announced an agreement with the Australian-
based offshoots of Hawker de Havilland and Honeywell to study
future collaboration in aerospace technology.

He was speaking to journalists here as he ended a nine-day
tour of hi-tech Australian industry to study possibilities for
creating joint ventures and strengthening economic links between
the neighbors.

Habibie, who is also chairman of Indonesian aeronautical
engineers IPTN, had earlier visited an exhibition of all-
Australian inventions and technical developments as guest of
Prime Minister Paul Keating, who referred in a speech to
prospects for closer bilateral cooperation in industry and
economic development.

Keating referred to "this great nation to our north", which he
said offered great opportunities for economic and industrial
cooperation in areas including defense.

Habibie told a news conference the only countries in Asia in a
position to cooperate on development of a commercial aircraft
were Japan, Indonesia and Australia.

He said he could imagine the three countries forming a core
just like the beginnings of the six-nation European aviation
group formed initially by France and Germany.

"You cannot make it in one day but the ingredients are there,"
he said.

The Asia-Pacific region was experiencing relatively high
growth with an increasing number of people who could afford to
use aeroplanes. "So there is a need of more aeroplanes," he said.

Memorandums of understanding had been signed with Hawker de
Havilland and Honeywell to form a study team to determine future
opportunities for joint collaboration and participation in the
aerospace industry.

He said he had been "very impressed" with Australian
technology and believed it European culture to be an advantage
for the region, not a disadvantage.

Australian society, its private enterprise, government and
media should be working together to create links between the two
countries on a wide spectrum, developing "centers of excellence
for the future and far beyond the year 2000," he said.

"My impression is, it's very possible," he said.

Asked about defense industry cooperation between the two
countries and the possible development of weapons systems, he
said the first essential was the exchange of information to
optimize compatibility of weapons systems.

"I can imagine that maybe in the next century we will have a
regional fighter here or a regional trainer contributed by the
region, in this case Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore
and wherever but for that we have to work."

He said he was also very impressed with Australian development
in biotechnology, medicine and animal husbandry.