Niarta JasaNet launches e-market for exporters

Niarta JasaNet launches e-market for exporters

JAKARTA (JP): PT Niarta JasaNet, a local dotcom company,
launched on Wednesday indoTradeCenter.com, a B2B e-market for
Indonesian exporters to meet foreign buyers through the
Internet.

Niarta senior advisor Markus Straub said at the launching
ceremony that indoTradeCenter.com would focus on small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the furniture and handicraft
sectors in the first year. Other products would be included
later.

"Furniture and handicrafts are potential markets since they
are in the top ten of Indonesian exports," he said, noting that
total exports from the two sectors reached $1.2 billion in 1999.

Niarta Jasanet hoped to enlist 30 to 40 exporters in the first
three months, starting with three members at the time of the
service's launching, he said.

The company initially would approach buyers in Europe before
covering the rest of the world, he added.

Straub was optimistic that the virtual market would be
profitable after 18 to 24 months, with revenues coming from
membership fees and charges for transactions and deliveries.

The market is supported by the Association of Exporters and
Producers of Indonesian Handicrafts (ASEPHI), the Indonesian
Furniture and Handicrafts Association (ASMINDO), the German
Centre Indonesia, state surveyor company PT Sucofindo, logistics
services provider PT Geologistics Indonesia Perdana, event
organizer PT Mediatama Binakreasi, and Bank CIC, he said. (05)