Locally assembled computers rule at five-day Mega bazaar

JAKARTA (JP): Locally assembled products ruled at the just concluded computer fair, beating big names like IBM and Compaq.

But organizers of the "Mega Bazaar Computer '97", which wound up Sunday, said sales dipped 35 percent compared to last year because there were fewer visitors and fewer participants.

By Saturday, the penultimate day of the five-day fair at the Jakarta Convention Center, Samco, produced by PT Samco Manunggal, recorded the biggest PC sales with 70 computers, organizers said.

It was followed by IBM which sold 50 computers; Indo PC, another local assembler, sold 40; Samsung of South Korea sold 40; Compaq of Canada, 32; and Acer with 30.

In the notebook category, which accounted for about 20 percent of all sales during the fair up to Saturday, a locally assembled product, IluFa, led the way.

"Consumers still go for price rather than brand names," said an employee of Dyandra Promosindo, which organized the fair in cooperation with Infokomputer magazine.

Big foreign brands have slashed their prices in recent months in a move to grab a greater share of the growing PC market in Indonesia. But local assemblers offered their products at unbeatable prices.

Fifty-two dealers took part in the bazaar, displaying local brands such as Samco, Indo PC and Mugen, and well-known foreign names like IBM, Samsung, Acer, Compaq and Toshiba.

Organizers blamed two things for the lower turnout at this year's fair: the weakening rupiah, and fears of hooliganism spreading from the nearby Senayan stadium where the national soccer league finals were being held.

Some participants withdrew from the fair at the last minute because of concerns that the rupiah might further weaken, which would have forced them to recalculate their selling prices.

Those who did participate said the bazaar was a very effective way of promoting their products. They said they planned to return next year for the third bazaar.

Organizers were also concerned with introducing computers to young people.

Intel Indonesia Corp, one of the main sponsors, held a "PC Kid's Party" for children between five years and 12 years to mark Indonesia's National Children's Day which fell on 23 July.

About 3,000 children from 100 elementary schools from Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi took part in computer games such as math and drawing competitions. The organizers also opened a PC fun center and a PC learning and discovery center at the fair. (08)