U.S. Chamber, Indonesian Chamber Sign Partnership Deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue and Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mohamad Hidayat today signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing to work together to strengthen business ties and promote greater trade between the two nations.

"There is little doubt that both of our countries will benefit from a closer relationship between our business communities," Donohue said. "This partnership acknowledges our mutual interests in creating a framework to increase awareness of business opportunities available in both countries."

The memorandum calls for the U.S. Chamber and its affiliate, the Center for International Private Enterprise, to provide technical assistance and help strengthen the Indonesian Chamber's institutional capacity. It also calls for the chambers to work together to strengthen the U.S.-Indonesian relationship, especially on business engagement, to create a dialogue on policy and business matters, and for the chambers to mutually promote business interests before both governments.

The signing of the memorandum between the two chambers coincided with a speech before the U.S. Chamber by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Yudhoyono used the occasion of the five-month anniversary of the Dec. 26 tsunami to thank American business leaders and the government for their response to the crisis and to advocate renewed and strengthened ties between the nations.

"American corporate contributions to tsunami relief have reached nearly $600 million alone," Donohue noted. "The outpouring of support by the American people and businesses has given us a chance to strengthen this relationship. The Chamber appreciates President Yudhoyono's leadership and willingness to build closer ties."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

# # #

05-91