RI moving in the right direction: Hills
RI moving in the right direction: Hills
JAKARTA (JP): Two American business consultants are quite bullish about the future prospects of the business sector and general economic activities in Indonesia.
Roderick M. Hills, Vice Chairman of the U.S.-ASEAN Council for Business and Technology Inc., said on Thursday evening that Indonesia is moving in the right direction.
"I think the macro-economic picture is terrific, especially because the Indonesian government has accepted the principle of free trade," Hills noted.
According to Hills, who is also chairman of the Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander & Ferdon law office in Washington, DC, the whole process is now open and progressive and Indonesia is making a lot of advancement.
"That is a good sign," Hills pointed out.
He was especially impressed by President Soeharto's leadership role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which have been among the most dynamic economies in the world.
Hills' wife, Carla Hills, who served as the U.S. Trade Representative from 1989 to 1993 and is now a business consultant, concurred that the improving business climate in Indonesia has been attracting an increasing number of American investors.
The couple made the remarks at a cocktail party on Thursday evening which was hosted by Tony Agus Ardie, chairman of the U.S. Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
They foresee an excellent outlook for Indonesia-U.S. trade relations because all the factors are leading to a win-win situation.
They acknowledged, though, some problems in the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), but added that they are more a matter of enforcement of the legislation and not of lack of laws.
"You have enacted laws on the intellectual property rights and of course you are expected to enforce the laws," Mrs. Hills said.
Rod Hills nonetheless admitted remarkable progress in IPR protection, though he also conceded that there is room for improvement.
"But of course, nothing is perfect in the world, especially with regard to such matters as IPR protection, which involves the process of enforcement and education," Hills added.
He said two of his major business clients in Indonesia had expressed satisfaction about the way Indonesia is enforcing its IPR laws. (vin)