U.S. opens trade center in Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown (far left) cut the ribbon in a ceremony marking the opening of the United States Commercial and Information Center last night.

Brown said the opening of the center indicates America's serious commitment to enhancing trade, investment and economic relations with Indonesia.

The ceremony at the World Trade Center was attended by Minister of Trade Satrio B. Joedono (second from right), Minister of Industry Tunky Ariwibowo (second from left), State Minister for Research and Technology B.J. Habibie (third from left), Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto (third from right), Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro (far right), State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and U.S. Ambassador Robert L. Barry.

"This center is a concrete example of the U.S. administration's commitment to building commercial linkages with Asia, particularly with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations," said Brown. Brown was in Jakarta to take part in last week's ministerial meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

Equipped with the latest information technology, the center allows Indonesian business people to have access to information about U.S. companies available for business relations, he said. (riz)