Surabaya Hails Cooperation with OJK, BEI

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - The Surabaya city administration in East Java has welcomed cooperation offers from the Financial Service Authority (OJK) and the Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI) for free investment, banking, and financial management training facilities. "They (OJK) are ready to organize the training. We will create three groups from different backgrounds to take part in it. The groups will comprise housewives, creative young people, and schoolchildren. Participants will also include city administration officials," Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini said after a meeting with OJK and BEI representatives at the City Hall here on Thursday. It is important that Surabaya residents broaden their outlook on the investment and banking fields, she noted, adding that the training will no doubt benefit the residents, particularly small and medium business players, in the run-up to the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). To face the AEC, the city government has been making preparations and implementing various programs since 2013. This includes setting up a language center to improve the foreign language skills of local residents, she added. "We have been preparing Surabaya residents to face the AEC. They must be prepared for it and must be able to host it instead of remaining mere onlookers," she remarked. (*) Reported by Abdul Hakim