State firms to help finance N-2130

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah said on Tuesday that state firms overseen by his office will help finance the production of N-2130 jet aircraft by state-owned PT Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN).

Sjarifudin said that Rp 73 billion (US$31.74 million) will be contributed by the state firms for the project.

Earlier this year, Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo said that the state firms under his office had bought 15,100 shares worth $15.1 million in PT Dua Satu Tiga Puluh (DSTP), the company set up in February to finance the construction of the 100-seater N-2130 jets.

DSTP has President Soeharto as its chief commissioner and Minister/Cabinet Secretary Saadillah Mursjid as president, while IPTN is led by Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.

The aircraft is expected to enter the world market in 2006.

DSTP is offering shares to the public to raise the necessary funds. So far, more than 20 tycoons have pledged to buy shares in DSTP. (rid/pwn)