Press Release

The U.S. Supports Competitiveness Program in Indonesia

Jakarta | Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in cooperation with the Indonesian Ministry of Industry, launched the SENADA project, or Indonesia Competitiveness Program.

The U.S Government, through USAID, is assisting the Indonesian government and working with representatives of the private sector to generate growth, trade, jobs, and income. By improving Indonesia’s business and investment climate, the competitiveness and productivity of the economy and local firms is thereby increased. USAID Mission Director William M. Frej said, “The SENADA Project will focus on developing Indonesia’s competitiveness in selected high potential industries, promoting greater productivity and value-added for firms and goods in the final markets in which they are sold, whether that market is local, national, regional or global.”

SENADA will create a series of Regional Competitiveness Centers, staffed with high caliber business development specialists that will offer a full set of business consulting services designed and developed to fill the needs of small and medium enterprises in Indonesia. SENADA, through industry experts from Indonesia and around the world, will offer its services in response to client demand and deliver international best practices and differentiation strategies that will enable Indonesian firms to improve productivity, generate jobs and income, enhance product quality and penetrate new domestic and global markets.

Advocacy will be a fundamental element of this project by removing constraints to growth and prosperity and advocating innovation.

USAID’s SENADA project is a $20 million, four year activity (2006 – 2009) that represents the United States’ continued commitment to Indonesia’s economic growth and prosperity. The program is part of USAID/Indonesia’s current US$750 million, five year strategy to strengthen democratic and decentralized governance, improve the quality of basic education, support the delivery of higher quality basic human services, and to create growth, jobs, and prosperity.