Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Toyota Group will send a number of small and medium businessmen working in the automotive industries from Japan to Indonesia to carry out its plan to develop downstream industries in the country, Johnny Darmawan Danusasmita said.

"Japan is aware of small and medium business development in Indonesia and of its role in maintaining national economic stability," the president director of PT Toyota Astra Motor said at a press conference here on Saturday.

He said the small and medium businesses would make a contribution and would cooperate with local workers.

"We want to focus not only on business or sales, but also manpower empowerment in Japan as well as in Indonesia," he said.

Johnny said the development as well as products needed for small and medium businesses wouldn`t cost a lot.

He said some parts were no longer manufactured by the central plant and therefore small and medium businesses were being brought to Indonesia to meet the demand for such products.

"They will come and cooperate through a joint venture company that will employ Indonesian workers," he said.

Johnny said the important thing about cooperation was location. "How can we start a new business if we have no location?" he stated.

Toyota President Tsuho Jun Kurabe said on the occasion that he would invest to help develop small businesses.

"We have been determined to develop small and medium businesses, especially in the downstream industry," he said.

Toyota Motor Group president Akio Toyoda supports the plan and has asked the government to accelerate infrastructure development.

"We have asked the government to accelerate infrastructure development so that production can be realized soon," he said.

By the end of 2012, Toyota Astra Motor expects to produce 600,000 cars and would also develop Innovative International Multi-Purpose Vehicles.

Toyota Group will also target an investment of up to Rp13 trillion, which will provide employment to up to 41,000 workers.

(H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/B003)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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