Information prime need for businessmen: Try

Information prime need for businessmen: Try

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno yesterday opened a
six-day export product exhibition, saying that information is a
prime need for Indonesian businessmen to increase their exports.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the exhibition, called
Resource Indonesia 1994, at the Jakarta Fair ground, Try noted
that information is needed by businessmen who in particular deal
with market demands, trends and the purchasing potential of the
public.

"They all determine what kinds of products we should produce,
how they should be packed and where they should be marketed. This
can make us more creative and innovative in producing products
which are really practical, attractive and salable," Try said.

He noted that businessmen therefore need to research the
market so they can ensure their products will be well accepted by
customers.

To promote local products abroad, Try suggested that every
export-oriented company should put high priority on promotion as
it is an expensive but integral part of export-business
activities.

"Our products will not be known or salable abroad if we don't
spread information overseas," Try said in the opening ceremony
which was also attended by Minister of Trade Satrio Budiardjo
Joedono.

Try noted that those who have small advertising budgets and
can't afford overseas promotions could group together and hold
joint promotions or exhibitions.

Participants

Chairman of the National Agency for Export Development (NAFED)
Rudy Lengkong said Resource Indonesia 1994, the ninth exhibition
of its kind, gives special opportunity to small and medium
enterprises to exhibit their products.

As many as 632 participants from 18 provinces in the country
take part in the exhibition, which is to be visited by over 4,500
buyers from 86 countries, including Japan, Britain, Australia,
Spain, South Africa, Kenya and Saudi Arabia.

"Buyers from South Africa and Kenya come here as to follow up
our trade mission to the two countries last month," Lengkong
noted, adding that the number of this year's visitors will be 15
percent higher than last year's.

The exhibition, which is open until October 30, is expected to
facilitate transactions of up to US$160 million, five percent
higher than last year.(rid)