President presents awards

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will give 67 Upakarti awards to executives, companies and local administrations for their contribution to small business, Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo said yesterday.

Tunky said the President would present the awards on Dec. 16 at the State Palace to 21 regents and mayors, 18 companies and 20 individuals to recognize their efforts to promote small business.

The winners would come from all provinces, except East Timor and Central Sulawesi, he said.

None of the nominees from the two provinces deserved the awards, according to the panel of judges, which comprises officials, academics and businessmen.

Atih Suryati Herman, the head of the Small Business Development Agency at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the government had given 863 Upakarti awards since the annual award was launched 12 years ago.

She said the number of winners grew yearly, which indicated the public's growing awareness of the need to help small business.(jsk)