Trade fairs a 'help' for export promotion<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior executive of the National Agency for
\nExport Development (NAFED) said on Wednesday that participation
\nin international trade exhibitions was one of the most effective
\nstrategies to promote exports.<\/p>\n
Director of the agency's market development for Europe
\nSuhartono said that many Indonesian companies received more
\nexport orders following participation in international trade
\nfairs.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that taking part in the events was still too
\ncostly for most local firms, but said the benefits outweighed the
\nexpense.<\/p>\n
Indonesian participants usually secured major orders during
\nthe fair, he added.<\/p>\n
\"Participating in international trade exhibitions overseas is
\none of the most effective promotional efforts to introduce
\nIndonesian products to overseas markets, especially amid the
\ntighter competition in global markets like nowadays,\" he said in
\na news conference on the recently ended Hannover Fair.<\/p>\n
Suhartono said local companies would have to finance their
\nparticipation because the government could no longer afford to
\nextend its financial support of the past.<\/p>\n
\"In the 1999\/2000 fiscal year, NAFED can only afford to help
\nin financing the participation of Indonesian companies in two
\ninternational trade fairs in Germany, the SPOGA'99 and the
\nANUGA'99, both in Cologne due to the government's very tight
\nbudget,\" he said.<\/p>\n
NAFED also will help in coordinating Indonesian companies'
\nparticipation in two other trade fairs in Germany, the
\nTendence'99 and the Ambiente 2000, both in Frankfurt, but the
\nfirms must bear their participation costs.<\/p>\n
In the 1998\/1999 fiscal year, the government, through NAFED,
\nsponsored Indonesian companies' participation in 12 international
\ntrade fairs in Germany.<\/p>\n
Participation in five of the fairs received assistance from
\nthe German government through its GTZ\/Protrade, one was funded by
\nNAFED and the six others were jointly funded by NAFED and
\nparticipating companies.<\/p>\n
Suhartono said GTZ\/Protrade also would not provide assistance
\nto Indonesian companies to participate in German trade fairs in
\n1999\/2000.<\/p>\n
\"It is not clear why the German government, through
\nGTZ\/Protrade, has decided to stop giving assistance to Indonesian
\ncompanies. Such assistance is really helpful for Indonesian
\ncompanies in promoting their products to overseas markets.\"<\/p>\n
Suhartono said German trade exhibitions, such as the Hannover
\nFair, were popular in international business circles.<\/p>\n
\"German trade fairs are managed very professionally. They are
\nthe places where producers, the fair participants, actually could
\nmeet buyers from all over the world,\" he said.<\/p>\n
NAFED has been a constant in helping Indonesian companies
\nparticipate in trade exhibitions in Germany since 1971, he said.<\/p>\n
Products offered by Indonesian companies in trade fairs in
\nGermany include fresh and frozen fish and fish-related products,
\ncanned fish, industrial goods, processed foodstuffs, furniture,
\nautomotive components, electronics components, footwear and
\nleather products, stationery, handicrafts, toys, garments,
\nwatches and other items.<\/p>\n
Annual exports of the products to Germany increase by more
\nthan 20 percent annually, Suhartono said.<\/p>\n
Germany's imports of Indonesian furniture grow an average 38
\npercent every year, with import value of more than US$2 billion
\nin 1998.<\/p>\n
Lamp producer PT Sinar Angkasa Rungkut, the only Indonesian
\nparticipant in the Hannover Fair'99, said it secured $2 million
\nin orders at the event. (gis)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trade-fairs-a-help-for-export-promotion-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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