Remarkable turnout for TECHNOGERMA JAKARTA '99
Remarkable turnout for TECHNOGERMA JAKARTA '99
The German-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Thomas Brandt admits he was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming show of support for TECHNOGERMA JAKARTA '99.
The fact that TECHNOGERMA is sold out, says the head of market research communications for the German-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EKONID), is a ringing endorsement of the commitment of German companies to Indonesia despite the economic crisis and political instability -- and the accompanying international media coverage.
"Of course, there has been a lot of negative news in Germany. Our role at EKONID is not to give a rosy picture, but to give a balanced one of the situation."
Calling the expected turnout for the trade fair "unbelievable", Brandt said 80 percent to 90 percent of the TECHNOGERMA JAKARTA '99 participants were small and medium private companies approaching the business waters in Indonesia.
German companies already established in the country are not fairweather friends ready to pull out as the storm rages, he said.
"Many have lowered the flame of their activities now, but it is still burning," Brandt said.
"They have had 20 to 30 good years here so they realize they may have to deal with one or two bad ones. And finally, the market will not disappear in the medium and long term."
Firms realize the "dumbest" action would be to leave Indonesia now with the expectation to return when the economy is on the mend, he said
"The danger would be for someone back at company headquarters in Germany to say 'Let's pull out now and jump on the train when it starts again'. You would stand to lose your business network, partner and good human resources, all of which are hard to find."
He considers the crisis as providing the potential for cementing relationships already formed and for developing new ones.
"Personal relationships and networking mean so much in the business world here, and there has never been such an opportunity or need by Indonesian counterparts to develop them as now," Brandt said.
On the TECHNOGERMA JAKARTA '99 exhibition, he said German companies will present their latest products and technologies to trade specialist audience at a comprehensive symposium program and other side events like a workshop on Engineers in Dialog.