President wants environmentally sound goods

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said yesterday that industries should make environmentally sound products or risk losing in global market competition.

"In developing our national products, we must make it a policy to produce products that are environmentally friendly," President Soeharto said in his speech marking World Environment Day.

Referring to this year's theme, For the Sake of Life on Earth, the President said the causes of environmental problems varied from one country to the next.

He said developed countries faced ecological problems because of an excessive use of natural resources and extravagant lifestyles, while in developing countries environmental problems stemmed from poverty, backwardness and ignorance.

"To improve our products' competitiveness in the international market, we must meet international standards, including ecolabeling," said the President.

During the ceremony at the State Palace, Soeharto presented awards to individuals, organizations and cities for their role in helping protect the environment.

Adipura awards were awarded to 263 towns and cities for their success in promoting cleanliness.

Central Jakarta, Surabaya and Semarang were among the 24 cities which won the highest honor, the Adipura Kencana award. It was the fourth consecutive time they had won the Adipura award.

Among recipients of the Adipura awards were four of Jakarta's five mayoralties; Bandung and Medan in the category of metropolitan cities; Padang and Surakarta in the category of large cities; Yogyakarta and Pematang Siantar for medium-sized towns; Bukittinggi and Fakfak for small towns.

President Soeharto also presented Kalpataru awards to individuals for their outstanding dedication to environmental preservation.

Kalpataru awards went to Achmad Amin of West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, in the category of environmental pioneer; three villagers including Nyinte of Kutai, East Kalimantan, in the category of environmental devotees; and three activists including Dr. Birute H.F. Galdikas from Tanjung Puting National Park in Kotawaringin Barat, Central Kalimantan, in the category of environmental advocate.

Galdikas, 51, a naturalized Indonesian, is the founder of the International Foundation for Orang Utan. Born in Germany and reared in Canada, Galdikas married Bohap, a Dayak farmer.

She is the mother of two sons, one daughter, and 100 orangutans.

A village group from Krui, Lampung, was also awarded in the environmental rescuer category.

State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said partnership between the public, businesses, NGOs and the government was necessary to effectively preserve the environment.

Only with such an approach can the environment be effectively managed, he said.

At present, he said, there was a lack of coordination among people of various fields in environmental management in Indonesia. (06/39)

Campaign -- Page 2

Adipura -- Page 3