Turkmenistan offers cotton project to RI businessmen

Turkmenistan offers cotton project to RI businessmen

JAKARTA (JP): Turkmenistan is offering Indonesian investors a chance to develop its land for primarily cotton growing.

The offer was made by Deputy Prime Minister R. Saparov during the Indonesia-Turkmenistan Business Forum in the capital city of Ashgabat on Monday night.

To a number of guests including Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas, Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Rachmat Witoelar and several top Indonesian business executives, Saparov said that foreign investors would be free to do as they wished with the cotton produced.

It can be sold locally or even shipped to Indonesia, Saparov said as quoted by Antara.

The Indonesian officials and business executives are part of the delegation accompanying President Soeharto on his trip to Germany and the three Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Ashgabat was the last leg of his trip and the President will head home later today. He is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta tomorrow morning.

Among the businessmen accompanying the president to Turkmenistan were Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Poncho Sutowo and Dali Sofari.

Indonesia's business venture in Turkmenistan was pioneered by PT Prima Comexindo. The company has existing deals for assembly line facilities and imports about 500,000 tons of cotton annually to Indonesia.

After a meeting with Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov yesterday, President Soeharto visited the 2000-year-old ruins of Nissa, located just west of the capital city of Ashgabat.

Nissa, also known as Parthaunisa, is one of the capitals of the ancient Parthian empire.

After a festive welcoming ceremony of traditional Turkmenistan music and dances the president toured the grounds and saw the statue of Rodogoune, built around the year 200 B.C.

Rodogoune was a Parthian heroin famed for her beauty and bravery.

Following his visit to the ruins, the president and Mrs. Tien Soeharto toured a state-owned horse farm.

Horse racing is a highly popular past time in Turkmenistan.

To taste the excitement and atmosphere of this long-held custom, President Soeharto is scheduled to attend a horse race prior to his departure for Jakarta this afternoon.

Earlier in the morning, Soeharto will also hold a second meeting with Niyazov, which will be followed by a tour of a carpet making factory. (mds)