Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - Putera Sampoerna as the founder of Putera Sampoerna Foundation receives a "Peace Through Commerce Medal Award 2011" from the International Trade Administration of the US Department of Trade.

"The award was given for Putera Sampoerna`s active efforts to increase international trade between the US and Indonesia through cooperation in the field of high learning education," US Deputy Trade Secretary Fransisco J Sanchez said on the sidelines of the award presentation here on Monday.

He said Putera Sampoerna is one of the eight persons chosen from across the world such as China, Hong Kong, Germany, the US and Australia.

Sanchez said the award was given to individuals, groups and organizations that had promoted and developed export initiatives, innovative approaches and US trade.

"Each recipient of the award is a leader in his/her field in promoting trade. He/she has not only supported economic growth but also overcome cultural barriers," he said.

Putera Sampoerna when expressing his gratefulness for the award said "I am flattered to be among great figures in the world to receive the award."

He said high learning education is a long-term investment for a country`s future economy. A country`s bargaining power will depend upon provision of education for its future generation, he said.

He said education is also one of efforts to deepen the relations that have existed between countries which will certainly help increase economic growth.

"I hope this cooperation will help develop the younger generation, increase economic growth and create world-class education," he said. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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