Fri, 04 Nov 1994

Expo on RI products to be held during APEC meeting

JAKARTA (JP): A week-long exhibition on Indonesian products and a two-day business seminar will be held at the Jakarta Fairgrounds here this month in coincidence with the meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

The executive chairman of the Host Committee for the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, Abdul Rahman Ramly, told a press conference here yesterday that APEC Expo '94, which will be opened by Vice President Try Sutrisno on Nov. 12, is meant to take advantage of the presence of more than 2,000 foreign businessmen in Indonesia on the occasion of the APEC meetings.

Senior officials of APEC's 17 member countries will start meeting here next week, prior to its ministerial conference and informal summit in the middle of this month. APEC's business people and economic experts also will hold separate meetings prior to the informal summit.

"It's a unique, rare and golden opportunity. So, we want to take as many advantages as possible by conducting the APEC expo and business meeting," Ramly said.

The expo, aimed at promoting trade and investment relations among APEC members, will exhibit various products, including agricultural produce, manufactured goods, minerals and heavy equipment. Information on infrastructure facilities, construction and real estate developments, services and tourist sites, as well as the capital market, will be offered as well.

Domestic and foreign businessmen are expected to make business contacts and sign cooperation agreements during the week-long exhibition and seminar, Ramly said.

Sports

"On Sunday, Nov. 13, we will conduct sports activities, such as golf, tennis and jogging for business people," he noted.

The two-day business seminar, which will be held on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, will present a number of Indonesian ministers as speakers, such as Coordinating Minister for Trade and Industry Hartarto, Minister of Trade Satrio Budiardjo Joedono, Minister of Industry Tunky Ariwibowo, Minister of Mines and Energy I.B. Sudjana, State Minister for Investment Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo, Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah, Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar and Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita.

The U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Ronald H. Brown, is scheduled to deliver his speech on the "Asia-Pacific New Business Horizon into the 21st Century" at the business seminar.

Chilean President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle is expected to be a guest speaker at a luncheon hosted by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) on Nov. 14, along with Minister Tunky. (rid)