HUMAN RESOURCES' QUALITY RI'S STRONGEST ASSET : FOREIGN INVESTOR

        Indonesia's strongest asset in its working relations with foreign investors is the quality of its human resources, a foreign businessman said.

        "In my opinion, its  human resources are Indonesia's strongest point  in attracting foreign capital to work and do business in this country. People here are great and valuable,"  Gerard Guillouet, vice president of Accor Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore said here Thursday.

         Speaking at a ceremony marking the takeover  of Nikko Hotel Jakarta's management by Accor Group, Guillouet who has worked with Accor since 1992 in Indonesia said  Accor had always been satisfied by the work performance of Indonesian employees.

        "Up till now, we have around 25 Indonesian general managers, and we do not ever want to replace them with expatriates  because to me they are quite professional," he said.

        According to Guillouet,  Indonesia could be the only country in the world where the group had local general managers
   "They have good skill, are professional and honest, and the most amazing thing is the people's smile. It is a genuine smile. Your get a different smile in other countries," he said.

        Indonesians'  genuine hospitality was somehow being smartly used by Accor to persuade foreigners to come to Indonesia.

        "We see Indonesians are very friendly and we turn it into a service. However, it is not always the most efficient service but it is given with heart,"
   But Guillouet also admitted there were some  weaknesses with  Indonesian human resources who work especially in Accord hotels.

        "Indonesians do not like to work under pressure. They can not be pressured. If we do that, Indonesians are likely to lose their confidence,"
   Besides, as an investor who had been  working in Indonesia for a long time,  Guillouet said he would advise the Indonesian government to improve the infrastructure, and  create more environmentally-friendly public transport facilities.

    "The government has to solve these problems quickly. Or else, the tourism industry in this country may lose its long term prospects," said  Guillouet.