RI to hold trade expo in UAE

Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Agency for Export Development (BPEN) is to hold a trade exhibition in the United Arab Emirates, in a bid to boost the country's exports to new markets.

The exhibit in the city of Sharja, held from Sept. 13 until Sept. 17, will be the second Indonesian expo in the city.

"We have to be more aggressive in entering non-traditional markets. They have the potential of becoming important trade partners," chairwoman of BPEN Diah Maulida said on Tuesday.

Diah said Indonesia's traditional markets such as the United States, European Union and Japan had issued trade restrictions that local exporters could not easily comply with. She did not elaborate.

"The trend of Indonesian exports to the Middle East and African countries increased by 4.48 percent in the last year, with over 3,000 items exported," Diah said.

To attract participants, the BPEN will give incentives to Indonesian exporters, such as booth-rental subsidies and easy access to visas.

The rent for a 9 square-meter booth is about Rp 8.4 million (about US$1,000)

"Goods brought to be displayed during the expo will also go through customs free," Diah said.

The first Indonesian expo last year was visited by over 25,000 people from 57 countries, while about 8,500 among them were buyers. Deals made at the expo amounted to US$9.2 million with textiles, clothing and accessories the main commodities, followed by rubber and paper products.

Indonesia's exports to the Middle East countries like the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Jordan and Yemen reached $1.8 billion last year.

Exports to African markets -- Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Sudan and Algeria reached $1.2 billion.

The Middle East and Africa have a high demand for products like stationary, office furniture, chemical products, electronics, building materials and automotive spare parts.