State firms to help finance N-2130

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)