Victoria's trade office here

Victoria's trade office here

MELBOURNE (Reuter): Victoria, Australia's second most populous state, said yesterday it has chosen Indonesia as the site for its newest trade office in Asia.

The state will open the office in Jakarta as part of the Australia Today trade and cultural promotion in Indonesia, Victoria's Industry and Employment Minister Phil Gude said.

"The office will have a major influence on our growing bilateral links with Indonesia and help regenerate Victoria's reputation as the corporate and manufacturing hub of Australia," he said in a statement.

The month-long promotion reaches a climax this week when Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating arrives in Indonesia. Gude said Victoria, which is already represented in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Seoul, decided to open a trade office in Jakarta after an intensive study by consultants KPMG Peat Marwick on the state's behalf.

Gude, who will visit Indonesia as part of the promotion, said he would also travel to Japan to encourage major companies operating in the state to expand and update their operations.