Nafed aims to up houseware exports
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The trade ministry's National Agency for Export Development (Nafed), has set its sights on boosting Indonesia's houseware exports to US$1.6 billion this year, taking advantage of high demand from both traditional and non-traditional markets.
"Despite tough competition, we are optimistic that our houseware exports could reach $1.6 billion this year," Nafed's Asian market development head Harmen Sembiring said as quoted by Antara on Friday.
Houseware exports last year expanded to $1.4 billion, compared to $1.2 billion in 2003, Harmen said in press conference on the sidelines of the third Jakarta International Houseware Fair 2005, held in the Jakarta Convention Center from June 1 to 5.
According to Nafed, Japan and the United States remained the main destinations for locally made houseware, with exports figures of $235.95 million and $221.5 million respectively in 2004.
In addition to the two countries, Indonesia was now penetrating other non-traditional markets such as ASEAN member countries and other nations and regions including China, India, Africa and the Middle East.
As part of the effort to expand in both traditional and non- traditional markets, Indonesia had been active in participating in world houseware exhibitions such as in Chicago, Hong Kong and other cities in Japan, he said.
At the exhibition, about 150 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) producing various household products gathered in an annual international exhibition, which was opened on Wednesday.
It will display products such as artificial flowers, bathroom and gardening accessories, cleaning supplies, electrical appliances, general house and hardware items, health and personal care and home decorations.
"The event was aimed at enhancing exports, as well as to create an image that Indonesia has the capability to supply high quality houseware to the global market," Harmen said.
Harmen said that the committee had so far received during the expo confirmations of deals from buyers from Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, India, Iran, Kuwait, Turkey, Cambodia, Japan, China, Suriname and Qatar.
Harmen did not specify the value of the deals.
Nafed's spokeswoman Sri Maryani said that the fair was opened for public and retail sectors at certain hours. Retail buyers could come between 4 p.m to 8 p.m, she said.
Sri explained that nearly 10 percent of exhibiting products consisted of non houseware products like aromatherapy oils.
"We have tried not to involve other products in the fair, but we cannot do anything if the exhibitors want to promote something else," she said. (001)