Suryacipta sets up industrial estate

JAKARTA (JP): PT Suryacipta Swadaya is constructing a new industrial estate specifically for technology-intensive activities on 1,000 hectares in Teluk Jambe village, Karawang, West Java.

"The estate, called Suryacipta City of Industry, is designed to accommodate automotive, electronic and component industries for both domestic and international markets," the company's president, Basroni Rizal, told reporters here yesterday.

He said that the company, which is wholly owned by PT Multi Investment -- whose majority shares are held by Benyamin Soeryajaya -- has received commitments from dozens of major automotive corporations in Asia on relocating their industrial activities to the estate.

"But we cannot unveil details of the companies until we sign agreements with them. This will be done before our grand launching next year," Basroni said.

The first stage of the development of the estate, which has cost the company Rp 100 billion ($45.57 million) for land acquisition and construction of roads, telecommunication and water supply facilities, is now 60 percent completed, he said.

The project is now being developed by Suryacipta's partners -- Obayashi of Japan and Jurong Environmental Engineering Ltd. of Singapore. (fhp)