Ramly to chair new company associations forum
JAKARTA (JP): Abdul Rachman Ramly, chief commissioner of PT Astra International, will chair the newly founded National Cooperation Forum of Company Associations (FKAP).
Sources close to the forum and executives of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) told The Jakarta Post this week that President Soeharto has agreed to the foundation of the forum and approved the leadership of the 67-year-old Ramly.
"It means that we get the green-light to run the organization in anticipating the new era of GATT," a source closed to the forum said, referring to the new principles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which will be implemented on Jan. 1, 1995.
The establishment of the forum was processed last month during a dialog between the leaders of business associations and government officials to discuss the impact of GATT.
A number of powerful businessmen, such as the chairman of Sahid business group Sukamdani S. Gitosardjono, timber tycoon Muhammad (Bob) Hasan, Ramly himself, as well as Minister of Trade Satrio Budiharjo Joedono, Minister of Industry Tunky Ariwibowo and Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Subiakto Tjakrawerdaya, showed their support to the founding of the umbrella organization.
"Ramly is a person with an ideal sportsmanship. I'm sure that he can lead the forum," the source added.
Kadin
Analysts, however, raised questions whether the founding of the forum contradicts Law No. 1/1987 on Kadin, which permits only a single umbrella organization for businesses -- Kadin -- throughout the country.
Executives of Kadin cautioned that the chamber itself has recently revised its statute to give associations a better position in the chamber.
Kadin's chairman, Aburizal Bakrie, however, said a day after the founding of FKAP that he was prepared to cooperate with the forum.
In a related development, another source hinted that leaders of Kadin and Ramly held a meeting here yesterday to discuss their roles to build better understanding between the chamber of FKAP.
The signatories of the founding declaration of FKAP are banker I Nyoman Moena, businessmen Sri Mulyono Herlambang, M.B. Nawawi, Wisnu H. Krestowo and Sukamdani. They appointed eleven persons, including the five, to form the executive board of the forum by Aug. 21. The other six members are Bob Hasan, Ramly, Soelarto Hadisumarto, Handoko, Rosita S. Noer and Mohammad Taha.
Meanwhile, Sucipto Umar, the secretary general of Kadin, said yesterday that Coordinating Minister for Industry and Trade Hartarto, had agreed to attend a meeting between Kadin and business associations on Aug. 10.
Sucipto said the theme of the meeting is to encourage Indonesian exports.
Sukamdani is a former chairman of Kadin, while Ramly was a government-supported candidate for Kadin chairmanship in the January election who was defeated by Aburizal.
Aburizal is the chairman of the Bakrie & Brothers business group. (09)