Low profits upset foreigners at Jakarta Fair<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Foreign participants at the Jakarta Fair have
\nsaid that they have not gained enough daily profit because people
\nvisiting the fair just look around.<\/p>\n
The participants include people from Egypt, Jordan, Iran and
\nPakistan. Each of them have been displaying a variety of
\nproducts.<\/p>\n
From Egypt there are a variety of hand-made perfume bottles,
\nespecially made for nonalcoholic perfumes.<\/p>\n
"The colors and patterns of the bottles would be damaged if
\nyou fill them with alcoholic substances." Ebrahim Bayoumi, a shop
\nowner, said.<\/p>\n
He also sells papyrus papers with unique Egyptian drawings and
\nhieroglyphics.<\/p>\n
Bayoumi also said the fair was too long and was not opened at
\nthe right time.<\/p>\n
"When people come to my shop, they only look around because
\nthey say they don't have any money," he said.<\/p>\n
Bayoumi also said the fair should only last a maximum two
\nweeks.<\/p>\n
"When a fair lasts too long, people get bored and stop
\nbuying," he said.<\/p>\n
He also said that his profit each day ranged between US$40 to
\n$50, but he has to pay for a hotel room, which costs more than
\n$50 a night, and the salary of two employees on weekends.<\/p>\n
Participants from Iran opened a large exhibition in Hall A and
\nHall B. They have been selling mostly carpets, crystal lamps, gem
\nstones and silverware.<\/p>\n
Their participation was organized by the Export Division of
\nthe Ministry of Commerce of the Islamic Republic of Iran.<\/p>\n
Ten companies are participating at their pavilion, but most of
\nthem said that they have not profited as much as they had
\nexpected.<\/p>\n
Hussain Zadeh, a carpet businessman, said that in an
\ninternational trade fair in Japan in 1990, he profited well.<\/p>\n
"Our carpets sold out at the Organization of Islamic
\nConference four months ago in Islamabad, Pakistan, and we even
\nhad backorders, because we did not bring enough goods," he said.<\/p>\n
But Zadeh also said that the Jakarta Fair was not an
\ninternational fair. "There are no foreign buyers here, only
\nIndonesians."<\/p>\n
He also said that most Indonesians do not really appreciate
\nIranian products, such as carpets.<\/p>\n
Zadeh said that some of the carpets were handmade. "That's why
\nthey cost thousands of dollars. They only want cheap products,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Most of overseas products displayed did not attract many
\nvisitors. A man, who came with his wife, said that the products
\nwere similar to Indonesian ones.<\/p>\n
"Why should I buy these things, when I can get them here (in
\nIndonesia) at a lower price. We have all kinds of carpets and
\nsouvenirs available at the provincial administration's halls," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He also said that he was only looking around and did not
\nintend to buy anything.<\/p>\n
"Unless I find cheap and good electronic products, I'm not
\nbuying anything," he said.<\/p>\n
The fair is open everyday until July 14, on weekdays from 3
\na.m. to 10 p.m., and on weekends from 10 a.m to 11 p.m. (12)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/low-profits-upset-foreigners-at-jakarta-fair-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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