U.S. and Finland remain confident in RI economy

U.S. and Finland remain confident in RI economy

JAKARTA (JP): A group of visiting, top American executives
said here yesterday they remained confident in the long-term
future of the Indonesian economy despite the social unrest in the
nation's major cities.

The American Ambassador to Indonesia, Stapleton J. Roy, said
his country's confidence was based on the quality of
businesspeople and on the government's commitment to carry out
the economic reform programs set by the International Monetary
Fund.

"Obviously, this will create some difficult problems but the
international community is interested in working with Indonesia
to ease the people's burden created by the steps taken necessary
to get the economy function well again," he said after the
delegation's meeting with Minister of Trade and Industry Mohamad
"Bob" Hasan.

Roy accompanied the business delegation consisting of 28 key
executives of major United States-based multinational companies
which commenced its three-day visit yesterday.

The delegation is participating in a three-day discussion
conducted by the United States Committee of the Indonesian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the U.S.-ASEAN
Business Council.

The Third Roundtable Discussion is being held at Jakarta's
Regent Hotel and will end Saturday with concrete proposals for
agro-business development.

Participants include Orrit Frenkel, a senior manager of
General Electric Company, the Federal Express Corp. vice
president Scott Hallford, and the vice president of Cigna
International, Theresa Carney.

Kadin's U.S. Committee Chairman Tony Agus Ardie said yesterday
the delegation visited the country also to check on widespread
international reports of social unrests in Indonesia.

"They came to see for themselves what was happening in the
country ... yes, there are riots in Medan, but to America that is
petty not representing the macro-picture," Tony said.

Roy, however, said his country was concerned about some
reports of human rights violations in Indonesia.

"As we spent some time in Indonesia, we see that the
Indonesians themselves are trying to correct problems with the
human rights," he said.

The business delegation also pledged yesterday it would help
the country develop its agro-industry sector and human resources.

"We will focus on working with the government in importation
and distribution of products, especially the development of
infrastructure and technology transfer on fertilization," James
Nolan Reimer, the country manager of Cargill Holdings, said

Separately, Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and European
Affairs, Ole Norrback, said Indonesia's current economic turmoil
was similar to that in Finland in the early 1990s.

Norrback, who started his five-day visit here Tuesday, said
yesterday Finnish companies were committed to staying in
Indonesia despite the crisis.

"My single most important message to you is that Finland is
not abandoning Indonesia. I don't see Finnish companies
backtracking from your country. Instead I want to enhance trade
and economic cooperation," he said. (das)