Jakarta to host largest ever trade expo

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta is gearing up to host the country's largest ever trade fair, in which more than 960 local businesses and 3,000 potential international buyers will participate, a top official said.

The 2007 Indonesian Trade Expo (ITE), scheduled to run from Oct. 23 to 27 at the Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, is expected to help boost the country's export industry, which has been projected to grow this year by between 14.5 and 20 percent.

"The Trade Expo will be the country's best and largest marketing avenue for our leading exporters and is aimed at attracting thousands of potential buyers from abroad," Trade Minister Mari Pangestu told a media gathering Friday.

Mari said growth in areas other than the oil and gas sectors in Indonesia had been promising this year.

"Growth is quite high at around 19 to 20 percent, so now we are looking at how to make this growth rate sustainable," she said.

"Trade exhibitions are obviously one way to boost exports."

Mari said the event, named "Innovative Design with Local Value and Contemporary Spirit", was a way to promote the country as a prominent player in the global economy, particularly in the international trade and export sectors.

"The ITE also serves as an ideal impetus to encourage Indonesians to appreciate and support locally-made products," she added.

The highlight of the annual expo, which was first held in 1986, will be Indonesia's Icon Pavilion, which spans 6,000 square meters.

The pavilion will showcase the products of 213 companies and 44 service providers and will offer potential products for export including agro produce such as coffee and crude palm oil, furniture and automobile parts. It will also offer services and products in the areas of information technology and construction.

During the event, the Trade Ministry will also present 29 companies with the 2007 Primaniyarta Best Exporters Awards.

Last year's winners will also exhibit their products in the Icon Pavilion.

This year's trade expo is expected to generate at least US$200 million in total sales, up approximately 17 percent from last year's total of just over $170 million.

As part of the expo, local entrepreneurs, international buyers and investors, foreign trade delegates, Indonesian delegates based abroad, economists and members of the government have been invited to participate in the Trade Expo Forum.

The forum will serve as a medium for information and knowledge exchange on current global market trends, opportunities and challenges.