Shoe and leather goods show opens<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some 90 local and foreign competitors in
\nmanufacturing shoes and leather goods are currently displaying
\ntheir wares at a three-day exhibition at the Jakarta fairground.<\/p>\n
Foreign participants of the exhibition, which opened to the
\npublic yesterday, come from Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan,
\nChina, Germany, France, India, Singapore and the United States.<\/p>\n
Director for the development of general industries at the
\nMinistry of Industry and Trade, Chaerudin, officially opened the
\ntrade show.<\/p>\n
In addition to footwear and related-leather products, the
\nexhibition will also feature equipment for the production of
\nshoes and bags, and other leather-made products.<\/p>\n
In his speech Chaerudin called on local footwear and leather
\nproducers to improve the quality of their products.<\/p>\n
\"The improvement of the quality is the key factor to face
\nexpected tighter competition in the coming years, especially when
\nthe free trade takes affect,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The leather and footwear industry will gain many advantages
\nfrom the free trade era, but could suffer losses if it does not
\nremain competitive against overseas products, he said.<\/p>\n
The leather and footwear industry is one of Indonesia's
\nlargest foreign exchange earners. Total exports from this sector
\nreached US$2.4 billion in 1995, and the government expects
\nannual export earnings from the industry to reach $7.3 billion by
\n1999.<\/p>\n
Yamin Rahman, a director for small-scale industries, said that
\n90 percent of local leather and footwear industry was made up of
\nsmall- and medium-scale manufacturers.<\/p>\n
\"Small-scale manufacturers actually find it much easier to
\nenter the foreign markets as long as they are able to improve the
\nquality and designs of their products,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Tanners Association chairman Diono Heningsasmito
\nsaid that most association members still face many obstacles.<\/p>\n
The sharp increase in the number of quality imported leather
\nhas severely affected local leather processors, he said.<\/p>\n
In a bid to improve the efficiency and the quality of the
\nlocal leather products, the association's members and a number of
\nchemical companies are currently building a leather industrial
\ncenter in Subang, West Java.<\/p>\n
Chandra Wardhana, another executive of the association, the Rp
\n30-billion industrial center, which would occupy around 100-
\nhectare plot, is expected to begin operating sometime next year,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The center is designed to house up to 80 leather, footwear and
\nrelated product manufacturers, Chandra said. (04)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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