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)