RI TO OPEN TRADE PROMOTION CENTER IN GUANGZHOU

Beijing, May 11 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has finally decided to establish a Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in Guangzhou, Guangdong province's provincial capital, instead of in Shanghai.

"The location of ITPC was originally planned by the Trade Ministry to be in Shanghai but because of Chinese new regulation, the government has finally decided to set it up in Guangzhou," trade attache at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, Imbang Listiyadi, said here on Monday.

Listiyadi said according to the Chinese new regulation, the ITPC should not be set up away from Indonesian representative office. Therefore it should take the location at the same building of Indonesian Consulate Office in Guangzhou.

According to him, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu had agreed on the decision to relocate the ITPC from Shanghai to Guangzhou after having a green light from Indonesian and Chinese governments.

Listiyadi said all facilities to support the establishment of Indonesian Trade Promotion Center in Guangzhou had been made ready, including the financial matter and the personnel to head the office.

"The center is expected to be set up in the near future because all administrative preparations have been made ready," Listiyadi said.

In her visit to China on March this year with Coordinating Minister for Economy Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Bank Indonesia senior Deputy Governor Miranda Gultom, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said the ITPC would probably be set up in Guangzhou instead of Shanghai.

According to Trade and Industry Ministerial decree No.518/MPP/Kep/8/2003, the task of Indonesian Trade Promotion Center was to make market development and trade promotion abroad.

While its function was to improve business contacts and cooperation among businessmen, market information service, Indonesian export commodity market, and market analysis.

Listiyadi said Indonesia at present has had its trade promotion center in Tokyo, Japan; Budapest, Hungary Los Angeles, the United States; Milan, Italy; Sydney, Australia; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Dubai; United Arab Emirate; Hamburg, Germany; and Johannesburg, South Africa.