Jakarta to host global TechnoShow

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Local metalworks and machinery industry associations and regional players will have the chance to catch up on the latest technology with a four-day international exhibition and conference kicking off on Wednesday.

The event is a forum for industry players from across the globe to learn from each other's technology, and will be an opportunity for local industry to help boost its performance, said the chairman of the Federation of Indonesian Metalworks and Machinery Industry Association (GAMMA), Achmad Safiun.

"The event is expected to facilitate technology transfers that will boost the competitiveness of local industry to compete at least at the regional level," Safiun told a press conference on Tuesday.

GAMMA, in cooperation with the Machine Tool Club (MTC) of Southeast Asia, would hold the first International Metalworking Technology and Machine Tools Exhibition and Conference (MT&T2005) at the Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran, here from June 1 to 4.

A total of 337 companies from 23 nations will be participating in the event. The firms represent global brands including Agie Charmilles, Bruderer, Finn-Power, Mazak, Mitsubishi Electric, Nikon, Sumitomo Electric Hardware Corp., Okamoto, Seyi and Trumpf.

Indonesia will also display its own quality products, presented by GAMMA and GIAMM, and the Indonesian Auto Parts and Components Manufacturers Association.

MTC representative Vicky Lim said that the organizers were not setting any targets for trade deals made during the event, as the aim of the event was more to promote the technologies on display.

GAMMA and MTC, an association comprising global industry market leaders, expect TechnoShow to be a world-class event attracting up to 20,000 visitors over four days.

Safiun said the momentum was perfect for such an event, considering Indonesia's economy was starting to pick up, which in turn required more metalwork and machinery to support the development and expansion of its manufacturing sector.

The country had billions of dollars in potential demand from various industries such as in automotive components, heavy machinery, shipping, agricultural equipment, textiles, chemicals, food and beverages, and construction, he said.

"But our considerably stagnant machinery and metalwork industries can only service 40 percent of current demand.

"In coming years, we could lose a lot of opportunities," he said.