French high technology expo here next week
French high technology expo here next week
JAKARTA (JP): The French government will continue to promote
business links with Indonesia by staging a high technology
exhibition here next week, the French embassy said yesterday.
The embassy Economic and Commercial Counselor Jacques Dumasy
said the exhibition was designed to display the diversity of
French technology and to strengthen business ties by creating
links between companies from the two countries.
"It will provide the opportunity for Indonesian businesspeople
to meet their French counterparts and for new French companies to
gain contacts and knowledge of business prospects in Indonesia",
Dumasy said.
The four-day exhibition, called "France High Tech '98", will
be held at the Jakarta Convention Center from April 15 to 18.
French minister of foreign trade, Jacques Dondoux, is expected to
officially open the exhibition.
French Ambassador to Indonesia Gerard Cros said the exhibition
demonstrated the French government's confidence in the ability of
Indonesia to overcome present economic difficulties, and its
faith in long-term growth prospects in the country.
At least 82 French companies have joined the exhibition, which
is expected to attract over 20,000 visitors.
French-Indonesian bilateral trade has increased steadily over
the last three years. France consistently ranked among
Indonesia's ten largest trading partners during thet period,
while Indonesia was France's 35th largest trading partner in
1997.
According to embassy data, the value of French exports to
Indonesia was Fr 8.7 billion (US$1.45 billion) in 1997, an
increase from Fr 6.5 billion in 1996.
Products for use in the aeronautics industry accounted for 42
percent of total exports, followed by electrical and
telecommunication equipment, chemical and pharmaceutical
products, consumer goods, agriculture and food products.
French imports from Indonesia amounted to US$1 billion last
year and consisted mainly of textiles and garments, footwear,
plywood, furniture, rubber, electronic consumer goods, and
agriculture products.
France has for a long time been the second largest bilateral
donor to Indonesia. Over the last 25 years the French government
has donated over US$3 billion to finance 300 development
projects. (gis)