Two firms to sell liquor

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Trade and Industry has appointed two state-owned companies to handle the import and trade of alcoholic drinks in the country.

The appointment of the two companies -- PT Cipta Niaga and PT Dharma Niaga -- ended PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia's monopoly, which had been the country's sole importer of alcoholic drinks.

Director general for trade in the ministry, Ilchaidi Elias, said yesterday Cipta Niaga would distribute the products to duty-free stores and Dharma Niaga would distribute them to regular stores, Antara reported.

The state-owned PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia, a diversified business group, previously appointed PT Tebet Indraya as the sole distributor of alcoholic drinks in the country. (das)