RI to join sports fashion expo

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will participate in the international summer sports fashion and sporting goods trade exhibition in Munich, Germany from July 21 until July 24.

National Export Development Agency (BPEN) chief Gusmardi Bustami said in a statement on Friday that participation in the 55th expo would be aimed at helping to raise Indonesian exports because sporting goods were one of the country's export commodities that featured potential.

He said that Indonesia stopped taking part in the event during the early 1990s.

"By following this event, we can anticipate the needs of sporting goods in the future," he said, adding that the Indonesian delegation would comprise eight companies.

Exports of Indonesian sporting goods increased to about US$37.8 million last year from $28.8 million in 1999.

Sporting products are exported to the United States, Japan, England, Germany, France, Singapore, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia, Belgium and Luxembourg.(05)