Jakarta. The government considers reducing the number of state-owned construction firms from currently seven to avoid overlapping businesses, an official has said.

"There are currently seven [state-owned construction firms] and we expect to slash the number to three," Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, a deputy for the state-owned enterprise minister, said on Monday.

"The three companies will have strong specialties of their own, unlike now when there is a project all seven companies join the bidding process altogether and offer [different] prices," Kartika added.

The seven construction firms include Adi Karya, Waskita Karya, Wijaya Karya, Hutama Karya, PTPP (Construction Engineering Company), Jasa Marga, and Nindya Karya.

The reduction in state-own construction firms also aims to increase their competitiveness and sharpen business orientation, the official said.