Taxi firm to expand fleet

JAKARTA (JP): PT Centris Multipersada Pratama, a publicly- listed taxi operator, said yesterday it would increase its fleet by 1,400 new taxis this year.

A company statement said it had bought 200 new taxis in the first six months of 1996.

By the end of 1995, the company owned 2,448 taxis after purchasing 352 new cars last year.

Centris operates its taxis in Greater Jakarta, Semarang, Solo (Surakarta) and Yogyakarta in Central Java and Sidoarjo and Malang in East Java.

"We will expand our operations in East Java by entering Surabaya this year," Centris' spokesperson Gunthar Bachroemsjah said.

The company's revenue increased to Rp 32.3 billion last year from Rp 30 billion in 1995. Its net profit increased to Rp 7.9 billion from Rp 7.1 billion.

The firm's statement said it had allocated 24 percent of last year's net profit for dividend payments of Rp 35. (alo)