Tycoon tells graduates to find jobs in villages

JAKARTA (JP): Business tycoon Ciputra told fresh university graduates on Saturday to seek jobs in villages and areas outside Java as many of those places were less seriously affected by the severe economic crisis.

In his speech during the graduation of 1,567 students of the privately-run Tarumanegara University, Ciputra, who is chairman of the university's foundation, explained that development and business activities were still running well in those areas.

"During my visit last week to Kalimantan, I found that construction materials were still selling well, meaning that development there is still happening," said Ciputra, who was once known as one of the country's biggest property tycoons.

He predicted that development in many cities in Java would be impeded while villages in Java and cities and towns outside Java would continue to bloom for years.

Under such conditions, he added, many people in the cities would flock to the villages and areas outside Java.

Such areas have not been so seriously affected by the prolonged crisis since their major business activities were based in the agriculture and mining sectors, Ciputra said.

"So, the future promising businesses are agribusiness and mining. So you have to find jobs in those sectors," Ciputra, chairman of Jaya property group, added.

And those aiming to be entrepreneurs must have an export- oriented vision, he said.

He cited as an example the successful story of garment tycoon The Nin King, whose business was still robust in the midst of the abundant number of bankrupt firms.

The could survive under the current time of hardship purely because his production was geared heavily toward exports, Ciputra said.

The, a donor to the university, also attended the graduation ceremony.

Ciputra then referred to Burhan Uray, the chairman of the Djajanti group who had also donated of the university.

Burhan could still generate a huge profit because his business was based on agriculture and natural resources.

"We (today's businesspeople) are like old trees which were badly destroyed by the heavy crisis while you are the young trees which will replace us," he told the graduates.

But Ciputra did not disclose his own story and the fate of his businesses.

He only said: "Although my companies have dismissed some of their employees, we're still able to raise the meal allowance for the university staff here by some 20 percent."

The university, he said, had also given scholarships to 280 students whose parents faced serious financial shortages after their businesses were ruined during the mid-May riots.

At the beginning of his speech Ciputra asked the graduates to cheer up by clapping their hands.

"I didn't hear any hand clapping when the rector announced the best graduates. Although it's a crisis, come on, cheer up and clap your hands," he told the graduates, who enthusiastically met his request.

The university has graduated 22,962 students since it was founded in 1962. Saturday's ceremony took place at the Jakarta Convention Center. (jun)