Future press release 1

Sudimara Energy Surya, an Indonesian Solar Home System manufacturer, yesterday produced and sold its first 1998 model. Outwardly the setup is largely similar to the HS-3 750 Watt Home System but one feature sets it apart: a universal cellular phone charger.

"The 30,000 solar home systems we sold so far enable the buyers to watch TV, listen to the radio and to have up to 10 lights in the house" says R. de Lange, managing director of Sudimara. "Including a cellular phone charger is a logical upgrade to the systems".

Financial backing of the new system comes this time not from commercial banks or a WB/GEF sponsored source but from the Telecom industry which was looking for ways to acquire new rural clientele. Sudimara service centers will also function as retail outlets for telecom providers.

It is a setup that could also work well in other countries where large parts of the population don’t have access to 220 V but have the purchasing power to buy a solar home system.

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 Future press release 2 

Sudimara Energy Surya has joined the companies that will raise private venture capit via the Internet.

The Java based company needed external finance to continue its expanding business in Indonesia and to finance first efforts in the export of its systems. The present monetary crisis in Indonesia has slowed sales from 5000 units/year to a trickle. The raised collateral will enable Sudimara to lower the initial down payment to a level acceptable to the presently cash strapped Indonesian customer base. Sudimara sales & maintainance staff say that the fixed monthly payments for the Solar Home Systems offer a valuable alternative to the uncertain prices of lamp oil and candles.

The company’s accounts can be examined on its web site, which also contained the order form, contact address of Sudimara’s external accountants and the necessary legalities.

An online roadshow will visit utility companies, ‘green’ investment funds, a selection of NGO’s and the IFC.