Exhibition to display industrial machinery, equipment

JAKARTA (JP): Firms from at least eight countries will take part in the Jakarta Industrial Fair (JIF) '94 which will be held at the Jakarta Fairgrounds in August.

Manufacturers from Australia, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia will display a wide range of industrial machinery and equipment in the four-day fair scheduled for Aug. 20-24.

President of the Jakarta Fairgrounds Soekardjo Hardjosoewirjo told a press conference here yesterday that JIF '94 is jointly organized by PT Jakarta International Tradefair Corp. (JITC) and Business & Industrial Trade Fairs Ltd. (B&I) of Hong Kong through its Jakarta office, PT Bina Interpamer Perkasa.

He said JIF '94 is a comprehensive exhibition featuring the Jakarta Electronic Industry Fair '94, the Jakarta Rubber/Plastics Industry Fair '94 and the Jakarta Woodworking Industry Fair '94.

According to Soekardjo, Hong Kong companies -- under the management of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council -- will use about five percent of the fair's area measuring 4,000 square meters and Chinese firms -- organized by the China National Machinery & Equipment I/E Corp. (CMEC) -- will use about 40 percent.

Manager of B&I James Lee said at least 80 percent of the exhibitors are expected to conclude sales contracts with local buyers, although they also expect to continue further trade on a long-term basis.

Soekardjo said that of the 500 local manufacturers contacted by the fair's organizing committee, only about 20 have thus far committed to participating.

"Since many Indonesian manufacturers are unaware of the long- term benefits of promotion exhibitions like this, they tend to neglect the need for additional promotion costs," he said. (10)