'Made in Indonesia' expo to be held in Libya

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

To increase Indonesia's market share in Libya, the National Agency for Export Development (BPEN) of the Ministry of Industry and Trade will hold a solo exhibition in Tripoli, Libya, from Nov. 15 to Nov. 19.

There will be 45 Indonesian companies at the expo, entitled "Made in Indonesia", including service companies, producers of consumer goods, building material, pharmaceutical firms, oil, automotive spareparts, furniture as well as textile and garment companies, the ministry said in a statement.

The expo is part of the implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on a Counter Trade Agreement signed between Indonesia and Libya in August.

The expo is expected to introduce more Indonesian goods to Libyan people as well as people from neighboring countries.

With a population of 5.5 million people and gross domestic product (GDP) of US$41 billion in 2002, Libya has the highest GDP in Africa.

Lybia is a non-traditional export market for Indonesia, which until recently only focused on the European, North American and Japanese markets.

According to the ministry, Indonesian exports to Libya reached $4.32 million annually over the past five years, with the export value reaching $5.8 million last year, up 20.02 percent from 2001.

At present, Indonesia's main export commodities to the country are plywood, rubber, steel, soap, glassware, paper, furniture, spices, and footwear. Textile and garments, toiletries, tea, coffee, food products, plastic goods, stationary, electronics, tires and machinery all have positive potential in the country.