Sofyan to create new forum to replace DPUN

Sofyan to create new forum to replace DPUN

BANDUNG (JP): Sofyan Wanandi, renowned businessman and former
chairman of the now defunct National Business Development Council
(DPUN), said here on Tuesday he would create a new forum to
fulfill DPUN's unfinished programs and obligations.

He said the establishment of a similar forum was necessary to
enable former DPUN members to realize their targeted working
programs, especially in creating one million jobs.

He said in its eight months of existence, DPUN had been able
to create some 700,000 new jobs in the agriculture sector.

"It (the new forum) will be pretty similar to DPUN, but with
an enhanced dimension and supported by more experts," he said on
the sidelines of a seminar held by the Indonesian Managers
Association.

Sofyan said he planned to launch the forum next week and
recruit between 30 and 50 businesspeople from various sectors,
including local business associations, to run the forum.

He said that in addition to creating job opportunities, the
new forum would also demand the government allow commercial banks
to handle the restructuring of debts of 170,000 medium and small-
scale businesses, which are currently managed by the Indonesian
Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).

"The systems currently used by IBRA are not suitable for
restructuring debts of these kinds of companies. The very small
figure of only 10 percent of the debts that have been
restructured is proof of this," he said.

He said medium and small-scale businesses should be given
different treatment to accelerate the restructuring of their
debts so that they could immediately obtain new credit and start
operations.

Sofyan said the new forum would work closely with the
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Trade (Kadin).

DPUN was a group of mostly local tycoons formed by President
Abdurrahman Wahid last December. Its main purpose was to give
advice on how businesses could benefit from the policies devised
by the government.

It was disbanded last week along with another of the
President's initiated economic advisory bodies, the National
Economic Council.

In a bid to replace DPUN, about 17 export oriented companies
and business associations affiliated with Kadin announced last
week the establishment of a new forum to help channel their
concerns to the government.

The forum -- supported by the Indonesian Textile Association,
the Indonesian Footwear Association, the Association of
Indonesian Furniture Manufacturers, the Association of Indonesia
Industry, the Association of Indonesian Pepper Producers, the
Association of Indonesian Coffee Exporters and the Association of
Electronics Manufacturers -- is expected to serve as a pressure
group to bring to the government's attention problems in the
business sector.

However, several other business associations, including the
Indonesian Exporters Association (GPEI) and Indonesian Importers
Association, said on Tuesday they were against the establishment
of the exporters forum.

GPEI chairman Rudy Lengkong said the functions of DPUN, which
he claims failed to perform its role, would be better taken over
by Kadin instead of new forums.

"We're very pleased with the disbanding of DPUN. Let's not
make more problems with the creation of a similar body," he said.

He said another forum like DPUN would only make the same
mistakes as the council by voicing the interests of only certain
businesspeople instead of the entire industry. (25/cst)