U.S., RI to boost trade ties
JAKARTA (JP): A delegation of almost 100 senior U.S. business executives will be in Jakarta from March 12 to March 14 to promote U.S.-Indonesia trade investment relations and participate in a series of programs to understand ASEAN.
The delegation will be led by chairman of the U.S.- ASEAN Business Council, George David, who is president and CEO of United Technologies Corporation.
Delegation members include the former U.S. Senator and Treasury Secretary, Lloyd Bentsen, the former U.S. Secretary of State, Alexander Haig, American education and public policy leader Walter Shorenstein, and Laura D'Andrea Tyson, a former National Economic Advisor.
The first day of the group's visit to Jakarta will include participation in the first ASEAN Business Summit, being organized by the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the council said.
At the summit, David will speak on ASEAN: Strategic Realities in the Global Era. Haig will speak on ASEAN in the Eyes of the Global Strategist.
On the second day the delegation will participate in bilateral U.S.-Indonesia activities, the highlight of which will be a reception and dinner with the coordinating minister for production and distribution, Hartarto
The group will also hold discussions with the U.S. committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to examine ways to broaden and deepen the two nations' economic relationship.
"It is vital that we increase U.S.-Indonesia trade investment," said the council's president, Ernest Z. Bower.
"Both the U.S. and Indonesia have benefited greatly from the strong economic relations between our countries but there exists room for even greater flows of trade, investment, capital, and technology," he said.
"It is particularly important that we increase links between U.S. and Indonesian small and medium businesses, accelerate technology cooperation, and enhance joint human resource development efforts."
Trade between the U.S. and Indonesia was worth US$12.2 billion in 1996, up 132 percent from 1990. (hen)