Samsung to donate Rp1b to KONI

JAKARTA: Samsung, the South Korean-based electronics company, said on Monday it planned to donate about Rp 1 billion (US$112,000) to the National Sports Council (KONI) for its preparations for the 2002 Asian Games.

The Asian Games, for which Indonesia is training about 130 athletes to compete in 19 sports, will take place in Busan, South Korea, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14.

Lee Kang-hyun, the general manager of marketing for PT Samsung Electronics Indonesia, said the donation was part of the $1 million the company had budgeted for its promotional efforts during the Asian Games.

No exact date was given as to when the donation would be handed over to KONI.

"The deal could have been sealed earlier if it had not been for the World Cup. We are now waiting on KONI's availability to carry on with the plan," Kang-hyun said at the Hard Rock Cafe.--JP