Sumitomo imports from RI

Sumitomo imports from RI

TOKYO (Reuters): Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd. said yesterday it had started importing wire harnesses for use in automobiles from its Indonesian unit.

Sumitomo Wiring, a major maker of wire harnesses, had initially planned to begin importing parts from the Indonesian unit, PT Sumi Indo Wiring Systems, at the end of 1998, a Sumitomo spokesman said.

However, it decided to bring forward the plan to this month because the Indonesian unit was suffering from extremely poor demand from local carmakers, he said.

Sumitomo Wiring planned to reduce output of wire harnesses in Japan and to boost output at the Indonesian unit to full capacity by January 1999 in a bid to avoid further lay-offs at the Indonesian plant, he said.

Sumi Indo Wiring had this month reemployed some of the 200 workers it had laid off since February, the spokesman said.

The Indonesian unit can produce 100 million yen worth of wire harnesses a month when operating at full capacity.

Sumitomo Wiring is 52.5 percent owned by Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.