RI, Germany economic forum setup

RI, Germany economic forum setup

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie and Germany's Federal Economic Minister Gunther Rexrodt have signed a document to inaugurate the Indonesia-Germany Economy and Technology Forum.

"The document we signed just now was written out in Bahasa Indonesia. The English and German versions were signed by President Soeharto and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl in Bonn on April 4," Habibie told reporters after signing the document Friday night.

Soeharto was in Germany early this month for a six-day visit to jointly inaugurate the Hanover Masse 1995, an annual industrial fair, in which Indonesia became Germany's co-partner, with German President Roman Herzog.

Rexrodt, accompanied by about 30 representatives from leading German corporations, has been in Indonesia since April 8, for an eight-day visit.

Habibie explained that the forum will meet once a year and will be held alternately in Indonesia and Germany.

"The forum will also involve the private sector of the two countries. The governments will act only as facilitators," the minister, who is also the chairman of the Agency of Technology Assessment and Implementation, said.

The Economy and Technology Forum will be jointly chaired by Habibie and Rexrodt in their official capacities.

Rexrodt, on Thursday, told local reporters that several German businesses are negotiating with their Indonesian counterparts over several sizable projects in the telecommunication, pharmacy, energy, aircraft manufacturing and transportation sectors. (hdj)