Salim, Astra donate staples

JAKARTA (JP): Salim Group and Astra Group, Indonesia's largest conglomerates, have donated a total of 90,000 packages of basic goods to low-income families in West Java.

The packages, which each contain five kilograms of rice, one liter of cooking oil and instant noodles, were given to 12 districts in the province, a press statement released by Astra said yesterday.

Franciscus Welirang, president of Salim Group's PT Bogasari Flour Mills, and Aminuddin, vice president of Astra's automotive division PT Astra International, symbolically handed over the donation to West Java Governor R. Nuriana at his office yesterday.

Salim Group donated 70,000 packages, with Astra providing the remainder.

The worst economic crisis ever faced by the country has had a devastating effect on the nation's poor, causing the price of essential goods to rise sharply. (08)