RI-U.S. business ties discussed
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian and American business leaders remain optimistic about the prospects of bilateral business relationships despite the country's multi-dimensional crisis, according to Tony Agus Ardie, Chairman of the U.S.Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).
Tony (front left in the picture above) said on Monday the outlook of Indonesian-U.S. business ties had been analyzed comprehensively by business leaders, economists, political analysts and senior officials of both countries at a one-day workshop in Washington last week.
"Participants at the meeting noted the political and security problems as well as the economic woes still dogging the country. Nevertheless, they remain bullish about the long-term prospects," added Tony, who represented Indonesian businesspeople at the meeting.
The workshop, organized by the United States-Indonesia Society (Usindo), presented several distinguished panelists, including American analyst Donald Emmerson of Stanford University; Senator Craig Thomas, chairman of the sub-committee for East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Ralph Boyce, deputy assistant secretary of state; and James Castle, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Jakarta.
Among the Indonesian speakers were Indonesian Ambassador to the U.S. Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti (front right); Lt-Gen Agus Widjojo, the Indonesian Military chief of staff for territorial affairs; Edwin Gerungan, chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency; Laksamana Sukardi, a consultant and adviser to Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri; political analyst Aristides Katoppo; Ryaas Rasyid, an expert on regional autonomy; Nurcholis Madjid, rector of the Paramadina Mulya University; and Caltex president Humayunbosha.
Other distinguished participants who contributed to the discussions included Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab; assistant secretary for defense Paul Wolfowitz (front center); as well as Usindo's chairman Ambassador Paul Cleveland and vice chairman Ambassador Edward Masters.