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)