Indonesia joins Australia's trade expo

JAKARTA (JP): More than 40 businesspeople from 20 Indonesian companies will participate in Australia's Trade Expo 1997 in Melbourne from March 18 to March 20, a government official said yesterday.

The Industrial Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, Harmen Sembiring, told Antara Indonesia would also send a trade and investment mission to Australia.

He said the mission would consisted of about 70 businesspeople, including the above 40, and be chaired by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Tunky Ariwibowo, who was scheduled to meet Australian Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Trade, Tim Fischer, in Sydney or Canberra.

He said Indonesia would feature textiles, garments and footwear at the expo which would attract attendants from 16 countries including Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, China, Italy, Poland, New Zealand, South Africa and several South Pacific nations.

He said trade between Indonesia and Australia had been growing quickly but Indonesia had a current account deficit, he said.

Last year, Indonesian exports to Australia were worth A$1.34 billion (US$1.075 billion), while its imports were worth A$2.4 billion. (bnt)