China's market not impenetrable, say businesspeople<\/p>\n
Consumer goods from China have penetrated all over the world
\nmarket, giving the impression that its market is inaccessible.
\nHowever, a handful of Indonesian businesspeople are beginning to
\nfind business opportunities in the country.<\/p>\n
Fresh from attending the second China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in
\nNanning in southwest China, the businesspeople say they are
\nconvinced they can carve a niche in the biggest market on earth.<\/p>\n
\"They now realize that we have better materials and up-to-
\nstandard craftsmanship,\" says George Kencana, owner of PT Sinar
\nSri Rejeki Utomo, a rattan furniture manufacturing company, \"our
\nrattan has a bigger diameter than theirs and our finishing
\ntouches impressed them.\"<\/p>\n
George, who took part in the expo for the first time, was
\noverjoyed with the results of his promotion in Nanning from Oct.
\n19 to Oct. 22.<\/p>\n
\"It turned out that our clients did not only come from China,
\nbut from countries as far away as France as well,\" he said with a
\nsmile.<\/p>\n
Rhenald Kasali, Special Assistant to Minister of Trade, who
\naccompanied the Indonesian businesspeople to the expo, said that
\nNanning is often narrowly seen as a gateway for the Chinese
\nmarket.<\/p>\n
\"In reality, it is also a gateway for ASEAN and the world
\nmarket,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Deputy Secretary-General of the Indonesian Chinese
\nEntrepreneur Association Richard Tan concurred, saying: \"It is
\ndefinitely an international promotion platform, not merely a
\nNanning platform.\"<\/p>\n
CAEXPO is set to become an annual event after beginning last
\nNovember, and Nanning's six-hectare exhibition ground will be its
\npermanent site. The expo is held simultaneously with the China-
\nASEAN Business and Investment Summit attended by government and
\nbusiness leaders from the 11 countries.<\/p>\n
Darwin, an expert on traditional Chinese medicine and a
\nbusinessman dealing in Indonesian herbal medicine, said his goods
\nwere all sold out at the expo.<\/p>\n
\"But these are promotional sales only, follow-up orders will
\ncome later,\" he told The Jakarta Post here.<\/p>\n
Darwin said he had created a special herbal concoction called
\nDarwin Jamu Godok (Darwin's herbal medicine) to treat diabetes.
\nIt made it five years ago after claiming to have a bout with the
\nillness himself.<\/p>\n
Having succeeded in treating himself with the concoction, he
\nlater decided to market it. Darwin said he made his herbal
\nmedicine entirely from native Indonesian plants.<\/p>\n
Asked if he was aware that he was going against the odds by
\nselling Indonesian medicine in a country famous for its medicine
\nthe world over, he said with a smile: \"There is no effective
\nmedicine in the world, not even in China.\"<\/p>\n
George and Darwin are only two among a growing number of
\nIndonesian businesspeople that are beginning to look at China not
\nas a threat but as a business opportunity.<\/p>\n
And this is barely a year after ASEAN countries and China
\nagreed to set up a free trade area by 2010. When the FTA
\nagreement was signed last November, some parties expressed fears
\nthat China would swallow the ASEAN market.<\/p>\n
Kasali also resented the misconception of many Indonesian
\nbusinesspeople about the impenetrability of China's market.<\/p>\n
\"The rattan and the herbal medicine businesspeople have proven
\notherwise,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu has said that Indonesia will
\nhave to rely on its strong points by nurturing its specific
\nindustries. (JP\/Harry Bhaskara)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinas-market-not-impenetrable-say-businesspeople-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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