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)