Australia to dominate Jakarta mining expo

Australia to dominate Jakarta mining expo

JAKARTA (JP) Australian mining equipment, technology and
service suppliers will have the largest presence at the Mining
Indonesia '98 exhibition, which will be opened today and run
until Saturday at the Jakarta fairgrounds in North Jakarta.

Jenny Lloyd, trade commissioner of the Australian government's
trade and facilitation agency, Austrade, said on Wednesday in
Jakarta that more than 50 of the around 200 mining equipment,
technology and service suppliers that will take part in South
East Asia's largest mining exhibition of the year will come from
Australia.

Other participants include companies from Canada, the United
States and Poland.

Lloyd said that despite the current monetary and political
crisis, Australian exhibitors were optimistic about the long-term
prospects for the Indonesian mining industry, and were eager to
reaffirm their commitment to the market.

"Austrade is urging Australian mining equipment, technology
and service suppliers not to let the veil of bad news enveloping
Indonesia obscure the substantive business opportunities in
markets like the mining sector," she said.

"The presence of such a large gathering of top Australian
firms underlines the continuing commitment of the Australian
mining industry to Indonesia."

The Australian pavilion at the fair is sponsored by Australian
airlines Qantas Airways.

Indonesia is Australia's top market for resource development
projects. Indonesia also represents more than one third of
Australia's total exports of mining equipment, technology and
service suppliers, who exported more to Indonesia in 1997 than to
any other country.

Australian embassy data indicates that Australian exports to
Indonesia reached A$3.37 billion (US$2.12 billion) in 1997,
against A$2.26 billion in imports from Indonesia.

Australia has a large presence in the country's mining sector
through companies such as Aberfoyle, Ashton Mining, BHP Minerals,
Laverton, Newhope, Newcrest, Normandy Poseidon, Pelsart and
Western Mining Corporation.

The mining exhibition will be held concurrently with the
Mining Indonesia '98 Conference, which will feature Coordinating
Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita
and Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto as keynote
speakers. (jsk)