U.S. trade mission to visit Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the United States-Indonesia Business Committee Michael Gadbaw and president of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council Ernest Bower will lead a 25-member U.S. business mission to Indonesia from Jan. 18-20, 2000.

The Indonesian visit was unveiled during a meeting between the committee and Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid in Washington on Thursday, the committee said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Friday.

"Our upcoming mission to Indonesia will underscore the solid commitment of the U.S. private sector to Indonesia and our confidence in Indonesia," said Gadbaw, adding that the committee had consistently engaged in Indonesia through regular missions and dialog with Indonesian business and government officials.

This will be the third mission in three years the committee has conducted. The first in May 1998 and the second in February this year included senior representatives from a total of 30 Fortune 500 American companies.

As in previous years, the committee's business mission will include meetings with Indonesian political leaders, a broad range of government ministers and legislators. In addition to introducing American business executives to the new government, the committee plans to hold its 4th Indonesia-U.S. Private Sector roundtable conference.

The conference is an opportunity for the American and Indonesian private sectors to exchange views and develop action plans that address their common interests.

Abdurrahman is in the United States to undergo eye treatment at a clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was scheduled to meet U.S. President Bill Clinton later on Friday.

The U.S.-Indonesia Business Committee meeting with the Indonesian President was organized in cooperation with the U.S.- Indonesia Society and American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce. (hen)