Computer sales to grow by 50%, says association
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Domestic sales of personal computers (PCs) are expected to rise by 50 percent to 1.5 million units this year, on the back of the public's increasing need for computers in their daily activities, an industry association said.
Sales of mobile computing devices -- notebook computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) -- also will continue their rising trend, as more people see the need and practicality of bringing their work with them, the association said.
"We see this year as being a particularly good one for the computer industry," Indonesian Computer Business Association (Apkomindo) chairman G. Hidayat Tjokrodjojo told The Jakarta Post. "There are so many factors that will be able to boost computer sales."
In addition to improved purchasing power as a result of the domestic economy's continued recovery, Hidayat said the commencement of several government-endorsed infrastructure projects would contribute as well to this year's PC sales.
"The projects will obviously need a lot of computing power for their administrative tasks and such, which we hope can be met by local PCs," he said.
Data from Apkomindo shows that domestic demand for PCs has been on a steady rise over the last several years. PC sales reached one million units in 2004, a 33 percent increase from the 750,000 units in 2003, which was itself a 20 percent rise from 600,000 units in 2002.
Locally assembled PCs -- popularly known as komputer rakitan -- account for about 60 percent of all sales, with the remaining 40 percent being built-up desk tops.
Of total computer sales, notebooks make up about 20 percent to 30 percent.
"The notebook share is expected to rise, as more people tend to be notebook-minded these days," Hidayat said.
"Almost all corporate managers, from mid-level up, for example, now carry notebooks around with them so they can make a presentation of their work and project wherever they go."
Hidayat also sees the recent integration of the telecommunications directorate general from the Ministry of Transportation into the newly upgraded State Minister for Communications and Information as a positive step for the local computer industry.
"The government, through the ministry, can now focus more on promoting information technology to the public," Hidayat said. "This will certainly help PC sales in the country."
Besides the domestic factors, Hidayat also cited recent events in the global computer industry -- including the decision of computer giant IBM to sell its PC business to Chinese PC maker Lenovo and the resignation of Carly Fiorina as Hewlett-Packard's chief executive officer -- as having a positive effect on PC sales in Indonesia.
"These events will surely make these companies pursue new marketing strategies, which will in the end improve sales of branded PCs here," he said.
Indonesia's computer penetration is among the lowest in Southeast Asia -- only some 4 percent of the country's 220 million people have access to computers.
Apkomindo itself rolled out the PC Ownership Initiative to help increase access to computers, offering affordable PCs priced at Rp 3 million (US$333) through pilot projects in Bali and East Kalimantan.