Indofood plans more Middle East exports<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed food giant PT Indofood Sukses
\nMakmur said on Friday its noodle exports to the Middle East were
\nexpected to reach about 5 percent of its total production in 2001
\nas compared to 3 percent this year.<\/p>\n
Indofood president and chief executive officer Eva Riyanti
\nHutapea said the company currently exported about 80 million
\npacks of instant noodles to the Middle East, worth about Rp 64
\nbillion (US$6.7 million).<\/p>\n
"I know it's not much, but we have to start somewhere," she
\nsaid during a breaking of the fast gathering with the Indonesian
\nChamber of Commerce and Industry's Committee for the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Eva said Indofood's exports are mainly directed to the Middle
\nEast, which at present accounts for about 50 percent of its total
\ninstant noodles exports.<\/p>\n
Indofood exports to the Organization of Islamic Conference's
\n28 member countries, including Brunei, Malaysia, Bangladesh,
\nEgypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi
\nArabia, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n
"(We export to) Saudi Arabia especially, because there are
\nmany Indonesians working there and (the habit) may spread to
\ntheir employers as well," she said.<\/p>\n
The increase will be achieved gradually, Eva said, explaining
\nthat in the first stage Indofood would export and market its
\ngoods directly from Indonesia without appointing a local agent or
\ndistributor.<\/p>\n
When Indofood is more well known to the public, Indofood will
\nthen appoint local distributors and carry out an advertising
\ncampaign for our brands, while the noodles will still be exported
\nfrom Indonesia, she said.<\/p>\n
"And when export volume is sufficient, we plan to invest in a
\nfactory in the Middle East," Eva added.<\/p>\n
She explained that at the moment the market was still too
\nsmall to open a factory in the Middle East. "If the market
\ncontinues growing, then we will think of investing there."<\/p>\n
She said Indofood was also contemplating exporting its
\npackaged palm oil Bimoli to the Middle East.<\/p>\n
"But first we will start with what we know how to process
\nbest, and that is instant noodles," Eva said.<\/p>\n
Beginning next year, Indofood will also begin assisting small
\nand medium-size businesses near its 14 factories and 22
\ndistribution outlets in Indonesia, she said.<\/p>\n
"We will create another division in our company called the
\nInternational Trade Division that will look into each area's
\npotential and help small and medium businesses there," Eva said,
\nadding that many businesses had good products but lacked an
\nunderstanding of quality packaging and export procedures.<\/p>\n
"We will help them improve the quality of their processing and
\nhelp them export their products to the Middle East," she said.
\n(tnt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indofood-plans-more-middle-east-exports-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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