Small S'pore firms to visit RI

JAKARTA (JP): About 200 small and medium Singaporean enterprises will accompany the city state's premier, Goh Chok Tong, in his visit to Jakarta to explore investment opportunities in the country.

The Association of Indonesian Medium Enterprises (AUMI) said in a statement on Monday that the Singaporean firms would meet during the visit with small and medium Indonesian enterprises on the possibilities of setting up joint operations or joint ventures.

It said it was asked last year by the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) of Singapore to find potential partners for the Singaporean firms.

AUMI said the Singaporean firms sought business opportunities in agriculture and electronics.

They were also interested in relocating their businesses to Indonesia and entering the country's market.

They also offered to buy agricultural products from Indonesian firms, while providing technical assistance to their businesses, the association said.

It said the Singaporean firms expected their products to be more competitive in the global market by investing and cooperating with Indonesian firms.

The meeting will be held on Jan. 13 at the Shangri-La hotel in Central Jakarta, AUMI said.

AUMI also said Singapore would host the World Summit on Small Business on March 29, which Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry, Kwik Kian Gie, was expected to attend.(03)