Gaikindo plans first expo in 4 years

JAKARTA (JP): In a sign of growing confidence in the market, the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo) will hold its first car exposition since 1996 in September.

The 10th Gaikindo Automobile Exposition from Sept. 6 to Sept. 12 is expected to boost the local automotive industry and to improve the industry's image overseas, association chairman Bambang Trisulo said on Thursday.

"It's a good opportunity to promote not only sales but also the industry's domestic and overseas image," he said.

The annual exposition was scrapped from Gaikindo's agenda when the economic crisis hit in 1997, as the automotive industry was badly affected.

This year's event will be organized by PT Dyandra Promosindo.

"Hopefully the result will be more optimal and meet people's expectations," said organizing committee chairman P. Soeseno, who is also the secretary-general of Gaikindo.

The exposition will feature local agents of well-known carmakers like Toyota, Daihatsu, BMW, Hyundai and Audi, representatives of motorcycle producers, car components and accessory industries and importing companies.

Foreign carmakers which do not have representatives in Indonesia have also been invited, Bambang said.

"Gaikindo members will promote new series in their lines, and we may see some unusual brand names from overseas," he said.

Bambang said the industry was well on its way to recovery.

Car sales had recovered to 125,000 cars sold last year after plunging to 68,806 in 1998 from a record 398,000 in 1997.

Domestic and export sales in the first three months of 2000 is estimated at about 60,000 cars and Bambang predicted total sales this year to reach 240,000 cars.

"Hopefully we will be able to meet the target, but only if conditions continue to be stable," he said.

Success would depend largely on the impact of President Abdurrahman Wahid's accountability speech before the People's Consultative Assembly in August, he said.

"If there are no negative responses, then we can expect to meet the target," Bambang said. (10)