Turkish minister in Batam

JAKARTA (JP): Visiting Turkish Minister for Research and Technology, Sabri Teker, and his party arrived in Batam, Riau yesterday to observe the activities at the Batam industrial development zone.

The group was accompanied by Turkish Ambassador to Indonesia, Sevine Dalyanoglu.

Minister Teker said Batam's industrial activities will be reported to his government as it can be made a reference for Turkey's industrial development program in the future.

"We hope we could also develop one of our regions into an industrial zone like Batam," he told Antara news agency.

During their one-day visit, the Turkish minister and party received briefings about Batam's programs.

So far 80 companies, most of them multinationals, operate at the industrial zone.