PT. Sucofindo to become int'l surveyor

PT. Sucofindo to become int'l surveyor

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned PT Sucofindo aims to become an
international surveying firm by the year 2000 and raise its
annual contribution to government by 50 percent despite its
decreased dependence on state projects.

"We can increase our annual financial contribution to the
government to Rp 600 billion from last year's level of Rp 400
billion. We are also improving the quality of our supervision and
technology-based services to internationally-recognized levels,"
the president of Sucofindo, Moedjiono, said yesterday.

The portion of government projects granted to Sucofindo will
decrease according to Indonesia's efforts to reduce trade tariff
barriers.

Sucofindo is 60 percent dependent on government work, it
inspects exports subject to government regulations and it
verifies capital goods imported by investors as well as local
contents of some industrial products.

The government's latest deregulatory measure, which was
announced this month, would reduce the company's future revenue
by 30 percent, or Rp 40 billion per year, Moedjiono said.

In future Sucofindo will no longer monopolize the inspection
of export commodities such as rattan, wood and leather.

"The portion of the company's revenue from government-related
projects, therefore, will gradually decrease to only 20 percent
in the year 2000," said Moedjiono. Deregulation was designed to
prepare domestic companies for global free trade.

Sucofindo is diversifying to compete internationally, he said.

"We have prepared our human resources, facilities and concepts
to be more independent, and take advantage of cooperation with
world-class companies," said Moedjiono.

Sucofindo will issue environment management certificates (ISO
14000) in cooperation with the Geneva-based Societe Generale de
Surveillance (SGS).

Moedjiono said Sucofindo is working with a German company to
test vehicle emissions. It will establish a three hectare
laboratory in Cibitung, West Java, to develop this project.

Sucofindo, set up in 1956, is 95 percent owned by the
government and 5 percent owned by the Societe Generale de
Surveillance.

Resource

Sucofindo signed an agreement yesterday with the Study Center
for Archipelagic Law and Development to design concepts to
develop and manage maritime resources in Indonesia's Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ).

Yesterday's agreement was signed by Moedjiono and the center's
chairman, Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, a former foreign minister.

Sucofindo will provide facilities and technical support while
the study center will provide expertise.

Mochtar said, "Maritime resources in the country's western
areas are more suitable to be developed for the domestic market
and those in eastern areas for exports." (kod)