Soeharto presents service awards to 18 companies

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.