PC sales expected to exceed pre-crisis level this year<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Personal computer (PC) sales in Indonesia are
\nexpected to exceed its pre-crisis level this year as demand from
\nboth corporate and individual buyers has indicated a steady
\nincrease during the past several months, according to the
\nassociation of the Indonesian Computer Traders.<\/p>\n
The association's chairman Hidayat Tjokrodjojo said here on
\nWednesday that computer sales, which suffered a major setback
\nfollowing the financial crisis in late 1997, had gradually
\nreturned to normal.<\/p>\n
He said the total sales of PCs in the country had reached
\n350,000 units as of September, far higher than the 279,000 units
\nsold during 1999.<\/p>\n
The sales of PCs reached its peak level of 392,000 units in
\n1997 but plunged to only 74,000 units in 1998 as the crisis
\npinched deeper into the economy.<\/p>\n
\"After slowly recovering from the plunge in 1998, we are
\noptimistic sales will reach its pre-crisis level this year,\"
\nHidayat said after the opening of computer exhibition Indocomtech
\n2000 at the Jakarta Convention Center.<\/p>\n
He attributed the surge in PC demand to the improvement of
\nIndonesia's economy, along with an increase in people's buying
\npower.<\/p>\n
Hidayat estimated PC sales would increase to 500,000 units
\nnext year, and 700,000 in 2002, given the promising direction of
\nthe computer demand.<\/p>\n
While during the crisis personal computers were mostly sold to
\ncorporate users, Hidayat said this year showed a significant
\ngrowth in purchases from individuals, reaching 35 percent of
\ntotal sales.<\/p>\n
\"There was also an increase of sales to public schools, which
\nshows the government's concern in the growth of information
\ntechnology (IT),\" he said, adding that unfortunately computer
\neducation in Indonesia only started in senior-high school (SMU).<\/p>\n
More than 100 computer companies are participating in
\nIndocomtech 2000, organized by Apkomindo and Dyandra Promosindo,
\nwith large brand names like Hewlett-Packard, Acer, and Intel also
\ntaking part.<\/p>\n
The exhibition, which will run until Sunday, is expected to
\nattract more than 20,000 visitors each day, the organizers said.<\/p>\n
Hidayat said that he expects around 1,000 to 2,000 computers
\nand peripherals to be sold during the exhibition. (10)<\/p>",
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