Soeharto presents service awards to 18 companies
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has presented service awards to 18 domestic and foreign investment companies for their distinguished contributions to the national economy and the people's welfare.
The President said yesterday the award, called in Sanskrit Wreksa Parahita, which means investing for the sake of the people's welfare, was presented to further encourage investors to help improve living conditions of the people.
"One of our biggest socio-economic problems is the issue of social justice and economic resilience," the President told the large, medium and small-scale businessmen attending the ceremony.
Yesterday's ceremony at the State Palace marked the first presentation of the Wreksa Parahita investor award.
Soeharto stressed the importance of enhancing equitable distribution of business opportunities to broaden and strengthen the base of the economy.
The President alerted again the business community to the opportunities and challenges to be generated by the ASEAN Free Trade Area in 2003 and the APEC Free Trade Area in 2010.
"To tap those opportunities, we need more investments, both domestic and foreign," Soeharto added.
Three categories
The companies honored with the Wreksa Parahita investor award are classified into two groups -- domestic and foreign investment companies -- with each group being represented by nine winners in three categories of industries: primary, secondary and tertiary industries.
The award-receiving companies within the foreign investment company group are listed below according to the large, medium and small-scale sequence.
* Primary industry: PT Freeport Indonesia (copper mining) in Irian Jaya, PT Socfin Indonesia (plantations) in North Sumatra and PT Triasta Citarate (fisheries) in West Java.
* Secondary industry: PT Petrokimia Nusantara Internindo (chemical) in West Java, PT Kodeco Batulicin Plywood (plywood) in South Kalimantan and PT Hini Daiki Indonesia (hats) in West Java.
* Tertiary industry: PT Swadharma Kerry (hotel) in Jakarta, PT Suryalaya Anindita International (hotel) in Bali and PT Davis Langdon & Seah Indonesia (construction) in Jakarta.
The award receiving companies within the domestic investment company group are:
* Primary industry: PT Batubara Bukit Asam (coal) in South Sumatra, PT Paloma Agung (pearl) in West Nusa Tenggara and PT Indonesia Farming Ciganjur (poultry breeding) in Jakarta.
* Secondary industry: PT Pupuk Sriwijaya (fertilizer) in South Sumatra, PT Bintang Arut (wood) in Central Kalimantan and PT Sindu Amrita (food) in East Java.
* Tertiary industry: PT Jaya Real Properti (housing) in West Java, PT Hotel Sahid Jaya (hotel) in Jakarta and PT Dymen's Hotel (hotel) in West Sumatra.
The 18 companies were selected from 2,900 foreign and 8,400 domestic investment firms by a special team made up of officials from the Investment Coordinating Board, various ministries and provincial administrations.
The assessments were based on various factors such as investment, employment, commercial soundness, community services, transfer of technology and skills, tax compliance, environmental awareness, business linkages to other industries or other companies.
According to Minister of Investment Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo, the Wreksa Parahita award, designed to further encourage the participation of foreign and domestic investors in the economic development, will be presented every three years.