50 local firms offer e-solutions at show

50 local firms offer e-solutions at show

JAKARTA (JP): Some 50 local companies operating in the
Internet-related business sector are currently flaunting their
newest products and services at an event dubbed the country's
first Internet business exhibition, the e-Business Show 2000.

Most of the companies are new and just beginning their track
records in the Internet business, such as news portal Detik.com,
search engine portal Catcha.co.id, e-commerce service provider
commerce.net and Internet solution providers Jatis and ATMCOM.

The others are long established information technology-related
companies such as computer manufacturers Compaq, Zyrex, Wearnes
and Mitac, as well as Internet service provider (ISP) Uninet.

A representative of the event organizer, Rina Radinal, said
the large number of participating companies and the fact that
most of them were start-ups was proof of the ongoing strong
interest on the Internet sector.

She said more companies were setting up new businesses based
on the Internet or at least had started to utilize Internet
applications to improve their own business operations.

The event, which is being held at the Jakarta Convention
Center until Sunday, is aimed at allowing new Internet companies
to demonstrate and share their experience and knowledge with many
other companies that are also interested in the Internet, she
said.

"Most of the visitors are from companies that are interested
in knowing how to set up an Internet business. The event provides
an opportunity for them, through discussions and workshops, to
acquire information and knowledge directly from companies which
have already started doing e-business," she said.

More Internet start-up companies have recently been set up in
Indonesia in response to optimistic predictions about the
potential growth of the Internet market here.

At least four new Internet start-ups, ranging from content
providers to e-commerce service providers, have been established
every month this year.

The continued entrance of new Internet start-ups into the
market is expected to make competition in the country's Internet
business tighter, said the chief executive officer of news portal
Astaga!Com, Jonathan Morris.

"The Internet business, especially online shopping services,
will be a very bullish business within the next three years," he
said in a statement, projecting the number of local Internet
users to grow by 400 percent this year.

The Association of Indonesian Internet Service Providers has
estimated that the size of Internet market here will reach two
million people by the end of the year.

Indonesia, with its huge population, is certainly a potential
market for Internet business, said the executive director of the
four-month-old search engine portal Catcha.co.id, Leon Tan.

"Indonesia is one of the largest potential markets for
Internet business in the region. Although it may not be as
developed as Singapore or Malaysia, which have established
infrastructures, Indonesia is surely a greater market, and it is
growing pretty fast," he said.

Meanwhile, over 50 telecommunications-based companies are
exhibiting their latest products and services at Telematika 2000,
a telecommunications, media and information technology exhibition
being held next door to the e-Business Show.

The exhibition, which will also run until Sunday, is being
attended by major local and overseas telecoms companies, such as
state companies PT Telkom and PT Indosat, European-based
satellite manufacturer Arianespace and mobile telecoms company
Nokia. (cst)