Indonesian firms to lead trade expo in Toronto
Indonesian firms to lead trade expo in Toronto
MONTREAL (JP): Indonesian companies and state agencies will
take up more spaces than any other country at an international
trade exhibition in Toronto, Canada, from Sept. 17 to Sept. 21.
The Indonesian Embassy's trade attache in Ottawa, Doddy
Hidayat, said recently 30 Indonesian firms and state agencies had
confirmed their participation in the expo, called Asia Show '97.
He said Indonesia had booked about 15 percent of the spaces at
the 9,000 square meter Automotive Building in the Canada National
Exhibition Grounds in Toronto.
"We hope this kind of exhibition will help increase
Indonesia's exports to Canada," Doddy said.
He stressed that two-way trade between Indonesia and Canada
was very much in Canada's favor.
Indonesia's trade with Canada was worth US$1.15 billion last
year, with Canada enjoying a $417.5 million surplus.
Indonesia also participated in Asia Show '96. There were 95
exhibitors from six Asian countries at this show. The countries
were Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and the
Philippines.
The president the Asia Show '97 organizer North American
Expositions Inc, Poonan Kathuria, said more than 100 exhibitors
from 10 Asia Pacific countries would participate in Asia Show
'97.
They are Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Kathuria said her company would make the second day of the
expo an Indonesian day with several activities focusing on
Indonesia, including seminars and cultural performances.
The Asia Show '97 has the full supports of the Canadian
government because 1997 is the Year of Asia Pacific in Canada.
"Indeed, Canada's Year of Asia Pacific is about community
building, in Canada and across the Pacific," Canadian Prime
Minister Jean Chretien said.
He said Canada's Year of Asia Pacific would involve government
and private sector visits to several Asian countries, culminating
with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting
in Vancouver this November.
This year Canada chairs the 18-member APEC forum and plans a
series of ministerial meetings before the summit.
Meetings on trade will be held in Montreal on May 9 and May
10, on sustainable development in Toronto on June 9 to June 11,
on transport in Victoria, British Columbia on June 22 to June 24,
on energy in Edmonton, Alberta, on Aug. 27 to Aug. 29 and on
small and medium-sized enterprises in Ottawa on Sept. 18 and
Sept. 19.
Canada's minister of international trade, Arthur Eggleton,
said Asia already accounted for about half of Canada's trade.
Canada's exports were worth $C190.1 billion in 1995, mostly to
the United States, while its imports stood at $C168.9, also
mostly from the U.S. (rid)