RI-Finnish council's new boss

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian former Forestry Minister Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo was elected chairman of the Indonesia-Finland Business Council, in the council's annual general meeting on Thursday.

The council said that Djamaludin, who served as a forestry minister from 1993 to 1998, was awarded the High Decoration of Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland by Finland President Martti Ahtisaari in December 1997. He achieved the distinction for his role as head of the forestry ministry and his dedicated efforts in forestry cooperation between the two countries.

In his inauguration speech, Djamaludin said he would be very pleased if Indonesian efforts to protect tropical forests from challenges and pressures in the future, could be achieved with the close cooperation of the Finnish government and Finnish forest companies.

The Indonesia-Finland Business Council was established in 1995 to bring Finnish business representatives together with their Indonesian counterparts. (gis)