Tue, 09 Sep 1997

Jakarta to host engineering expo

JAKARTA (JP): About 200 companies from more than 20 countries will participate in a major engineering and industrial show to be held at the Jakarta Convention Center from Oct. 7 to Oct. 10.

Minister of Trade and Industry Tunky Ariwibowo is expected to officially open the exhibition, which will showcase the latest engineering products and systems from around the world.

The exhibition, organized by Singapore-based HQ Link Pte. Ltd, comprises six related shows: Pumps and Systems Indonesia'97, Valves and Piping, Compressors and System, Turbopower, Pollutex and Filtration, Water and Wastewater Treatment Systems.

HQ Link president, Dylis Yong, said yesterday overseas participants would include Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Major Indonesian manufacturers such as PT Bumi Cahaya Unggal, PT Groundfos Pompa, PT Indobara Bahana, PT Tiga Ikan Engineering and PT Torishima Guna Indonesia will also participate.

Yong said infrastructure development was increasingly necessary to support the continued expansion of industrial activities in Indonesia.

"We're confident the exhibition is headed for great success which will go further to benefit Indonesia's industries," Yong said.

She said the exhibition was also expected to be a good opportunity for professionals to meet and establish business contacts and relationships.

Commenting on Indonesia's currency crisis, HQ Link's executive director David Kwok said his company was confident it would not affect transactions at the exhibition.

"We're sure the exhibition will still attract a lot of buyers, because the crisis is just temporary," Kwok said.

According to organizers, the exhibition was prompted by the remarkable success of the ASEAN Show held in Jakarta in 1995, in which 23 countries participated drawing 6,000 Indonesian and regional trade visitors.

More than 6,000 visitors are expected to attend the forthcoming exhibition, which is expected to book US$200 million in transactions. (08)