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)