UNDP helps export promotion

JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) signed a document yesterday promising a grant of US$761,000 to help develop better export promotion services in Indonesia for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The document was signed by Secretary general of the Ministry of Trade Bakir Hasan and UNDP resident representative Fritz H. Loebus.

The project is aimed at assisting the ministry in providing trade promotion services for the business community, especially small and medium- sized exporters.

Loebus said one major problem which they hope to deal with is the lack of institutional arrangements for a mutually supportive partnership between small and medium enterprises and the National Agency for Export Development (NAFED).

NAFED is the ministry's promotional agency for exports.

The project will also try to establish an effective trade communications system that will make better use of the combined resources of NAFED, such as its overseas representative offices, the ministry provincial offices and other related agencies.

The aid is also expected to improve the effectiveness of trade information services for exporters, according to Loebus. This will be achieved by strengthening NAFED's Center for Trade Information and Market Analysis by creating a well-defined trade information strategy that addresses the needs of the exporters, he said.

The two-year project will be executed by NAFED and the International Trade Center. NAFED will provide personnel who will work with the international and national project to help with technical training and assistance. (yns)