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)