PC sales expected to exceed pre-crisis level this year

JAKARTA (JP): Personal computer (PC) sales in Indonesia are expected to exceed its pre-crisis level this year as demand from both corporate and individual buyers has indicated a steady increase during the past several months, according to the association of the Indonesian Computer Traders.

The association's chairman Hidayat Tjokrodjojo said here on Wednesday that computer sales, which suffered a major setback following the financial crisis in late 1997, had gradually returned to normal.

He said the total sales of PCs in the country had reached 350,000 units as of September, far higher than the 279,000 units sold during 1999.

The sales of PCs reached its peak level of 392,000 units in 1997 but plunged to only 74,000 units in 1998 as the crisis pinched deeper into the economy.

"After slowly recovering from the plunge in 1998, we are optimistic sales will reach its pre-crisis level this year," Hidayat said after the opening of computer exhibition Indocomtech 2000 at the Jakarta Convention Center.

He attributed the surge in PC demand to the improvement of Indonesia's economy, along with an increase in people's buying power.

Hidayat estimated PC sales would increase to 500,000 units next year, and 700,000 in 2002, given the promising direction of the computer demand.

While during the crisis personal computers were mostly sold to corporate users, Hidayat said this year showed a significant growth in purchases from individuals, reaching 35 percent of total sales.

"There was also an increase of sales to public schools, which shows the government's concern in the growth of information technology (IT)," he said, adding that unfortunately computer education in Indonesia only started in senior-high school (SMU).

More than 100 computer companies are participating in Indocomtech 2000, organized by Apkomindo and Dyandra Promosindo, with large brand names like Hewlett-Packard, Acer, and Intel also taking part.

The exhibition, which will run until Sunday, is expected to attract more than 20,000 visitors each day, the organizers said.

Hidayat said that he expects around 1,000 to 2,000 computers and peripherals to be sold during the exhibition. (10)