20 nations to join cooperatives expo

20 nations to join cooperatives expo

JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of 20 nations will join 500
cooperatives and small enterprises in an exhibition in Jakarta
next month marking the half century of Indonesian cooperatives.

President Soeharto is scheduled to open The International
Small Enterprises Exhibition '97, Director General for Small
Enterprises Anwar Supriyadi said here yesterday. It will be held
from July 14 to July 18 at the Jakarta Convention Center.

He said about 50 foreign cooperative associations would
participate, including representatives of the United States,
Canada, Denmark, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines,
India, China, Egypt, Myanmar, France, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Iran and
Burkina Faso.

"Through the exhibition, local cooperatives and small
enterprises are expected to make comparative studies with foreign
participants and forge an international business network," Anwar
said.

The exhibition will provide a complete overview of the
development of Indonesian cooperatives in the past 50 years, he
said, adding that it was also expected to attract the business
community to invest in Indonesia through cooperatives.

Data of the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises
shows there were more than 48,300 cooperatives operating in
Indonesia last year, with membership reaching 27 million.

The exhibition, which is organized by the Indonesian Business
Cooperatives, PT Rekka Mandiri Ekayasa Media and PT Tridana Sakti
under sponsorship of the Yayasan Tiara Indah Foundation, will
cost around Rp 2.4 billion (US$1 million).

Funding would be collected from sponsors and participants,
Anwar said.

The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises would help
finance the transportation and accommodation of participants from
rural areas, he said. "Otherwise, many of them could not afford
to participate in the exhibition."

Business representatives, government officials, members of
business and professional associations and academicians are
expected to be among the projected 50,000 visitors. (jsk)