Japanese businesses set to join export expo

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As many as 106 Japanese businesspeople are expected to participate in the country's 16th Export Products Exhibition, scheduled to be held here from Oct. 24 to 28, the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) said on Monday.

The agency, which will also be represented at the expo, said in a press release that the Japanese businesspeople had confirmed their participation in the exhibition to follow up on contact made with Indonesian businesspeople during a recent business meeting in Osaka.

The Osaka meeting, which was jointly held by Jetro, Indonesia's National Export Development Board and the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center on Sept. 11, was attended by 20 Indonesian exporters and 127 of Japan's Kansai businesspeople.

The Indonesian exporters present at the Osaka meeting were all from small and medium enterprises selling or producing a wide range of handicraft and souvenir products, including rattan products, aroma therapy, silver craft products, leather products, natural fiber-based souvenirs and wooden products.

Aside from promoting its own activities during the upcoming expo, Jetro said it will also provide space for the 20 Indonesian participants of the Osaka meeting to exhibit their products.

Jetro has been implementing programs to promote and increase the export of Indonesian products, particularly handicrafts and souvenirs, to Japan.