President accepts new title

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto agreed yesterday to accept the title Indonesia's Patron of Cooperative Promoters awarded him by the Indonesian Cooperatives Council.

Secretary-general of the Indonesian Cooperatives Council, Agus Sudono, said the subject was raised by the council in a meeting with Soeharto at Merdeka Palace, also yesterday.

He said it was what council members wanted.

Indonesia awarded the title Father of Cooperatives to co- proclamator of independence and first vice president, Dr. Moh. Hatta, for his work in laying the foundations of Indonesia's cooperatives movement.

"But because of the political situation then, he was unable to fulfill all his ambitions," Agus said.

Soeharto, on the other hand, has been promoting cooperatives since 1950, when he was still active in the army. At that time he set up a cooperative to help the wives of soldiers who went to war.

"And he has continued to support the development of cooperatives," Agus said.

The council told Soeharto that it was due to meet soon with Jimbaran group associated businesspeople and the Coordinating Body for the Implementation of National Business Partnership Program group.

Council chairman Sri Mulyono Herlambang said the meeting would discuss proposals for joint activities and projects.

The Jimbaran group consists of 48 tycoons who met in Jimbaran, Bali, almost two years ago, to work out programs of action to help small and medium enterprises and eradicate poverty.

The Coordinating Body for the Implementation of National Business Partnership Program group was established with similar goals in January. It consists of 79 local businesses. (pwn)