Queensland opens trade offices in Indonesia

Queensland opens trade offices in Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): The Australian state of Queensland is opening
trade and investment offices in Jakarta and Semarang, Central
Java, in a bid to boost bilateral ties.

Queensland premier Rob Borbidge officially opened the Jakarta
office yesterday and is slated to open the Semarang office today.

"We obviously want to trade more with Indonesia, and
Queensland companies are also looking at expanding joint venture
opportunities here," Borbidge said at yesterday's ceremony.

The trade and investment offices will assists both Queensland
and Indonesian companies looking to establish business
partnerships.

Indonesia ranks seventh among Queensland's merchandise trading
partners.

Two-way trade between Queensland and Indonesia grew from
A$337.7 million to almost A$1 billion in the five years from
1990/1991 to 1995/1996, with Queensland enjoying a trade surplus
of some $45 million last fiscal year.

Indonesian State Minister of Investment Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo,
who attended yesterday's function, called on Queensland investors
to invest more in eastern Indonesia.

"I would like to see more and more Queensland businesspeople
invest in eastern Indonesia rather than here in Jakarta because
here is already crowded," Sanyoto said.

The Indonesian government has approved foreign direct
investments worth US$183.5 billion since 1967, of which $6.4
billion came from Australia.

Borbidge said the Queensland government would exert itself in
driving more investors to invest in Indonesia to benefit from
Indonesia's high economic growth and increasing prosperity.

"Indonesia will continue to consolidate economic growth, and
certainly the relationship we enjoy is very secure and very
stable. I'm very optimistic about the future of your country,"
Borbidge said. (rid)