Japan to help business recovery process in Yogya

Antara News, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 11/15/2010 6:45 PM

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has pledged a program to support economic recovery activities of small and medium enterprises in Yogyakarta and Central Java affected by the eruptions of Mount Merapi.

Speaking after a meeting between Indonesia’s Vice President Boediono and JICA president Sadako Ogata in Tokyo on Monday, Vice Presidential spokesman Yopie Hidayat told reporters the program was being prepared.

“Mrs Ogata said JICA was preparing a program to help the recovery of small and medium enterprises after the natural disaster that has wiped out markets and buyers and disrupted businesses,” Yopie said, as quoted by Antara.

“The recovery is important not just to the victims, but also for the economy. It is crucial to reinstate life, to mend ruined jobs and businesses in Yogya, such as the craft industry, which had been developing well using local sources, but is now badly impacted by the volcanic eruptions,” he said.

JICA’s support will come in the form of financial and technical supports, including management counseling for small and medium enterprises, Yopie said.

The cooperation with JICA, he added, will be part of the government’s rehabilitative measures in Yogyakarta and Central Java in the aftermath of the Mount Merapi disaster.