700 industrial companies to show at Indonesia Expo '95

JAKARTA (JP): An estimated 700 private and state-owned companies will take part in Indonesia Expo '95, exhibition of industrial products held every five years.

President Soeharto is scheduled to open the display at the Jakarta Fairgrounds on Aug. 12.

The exposition, to be held in conjunction with the golden anniversary of Indonesia's Independence, is the first to be conducted by a private company, after similar exhibitions in 1985 and 1990.

Earlier reports said the exhibition will likely cost Rp 15 billion (US$6.7 million).

"Our mission is, politically, to inform people in the country and worldwide about our achievements in industrial development," Herman Wiriadipoera, general manager of PT Napindo Pratama, the company managing the exposition, told the Jakarta Post yesterday.

The display, which has an export information center and an export forum for foreign delegates, is to be held in the 4.5- hectare indoor and the 15,000-square meter outdoor arenas from Aug. 12 to Aug. 27.

The exhibition will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for professionals, buyers, government officials and students. It is to be open to the public from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m..

Supporting activities, such as seminars in Surabaya, East Java; Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, and Medan, North Sumatra, as well as business contact forums and tours are also planned for the exposition.

The products and services to be exhibited include those related to the manufacturing industry, agriculture, education and training, trade, transportation, mining and energy, forestry, tourism, postal services, telecommunications, transmigration, finance, cooperatives, science and technology.

Herman predicted that three million visitors, including foreign business delegates, will visit the 15-day exhibition.

Foreign visitors are expected from Japan, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Austria, the United States, Canada, Nigeria, Malaysia, Singapore, Norway, France and Spain. (kod)