SEA Games merchandising expected to rise Rp 500m

JAKARTA (JP): Merchandising for the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games is expected to collect Rp 500 million (US$204,082) in three months but the Games consortium is not optimistic about sales.

The consortium's promotion and business deputy, Enggartiasto Lukita, said yesterday the consortium was not expecting much in the way of sales.

"We're using the products only to support the Games, not to make a profit. As long as they are sold, we're happy. We'll count the profit after the event," he said.

The consortium has appointed PT Harfian Putra Pratama, PT Asa Sagotra and PT Andira Suryamitra to make stickers, caps, T- shirts, polo shirts, jackets, vests, pins, pens, bags, umbrellas, watches, clocks and mugs.

All products will bear the Games mascot, Hanoman. Hanoman, who symbolizes bravery, is a white half-knight monkey from the Ramayana epic.

Products range from Rp 2,000 to Rp 100,000. Limited edition merchandise will also be available. The merchandise will be launched July 28 at the Hilton Hotel Grand Ball Room.

The consortium is cooperating with the Indonesian Retailers Association to distribute the merchandise to well-known department stores, including Pasaraya.

Enggartiasto said the consortium and the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications would launch a series of SEA Games stamps soon.

He said the consortium had registered the products' trade marks to avoid illegal copies in Indonesia and the nine other participating countries.

Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam will compete in the biennial event, which will be here from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.

The consortium expects to raise Rp 35 billion from the controversial sticker sales. It has collected Rp 11.25 billion since March.

President Soeharto urged the consortium to sell the stickers itself after a there was controversy over their sale when it was handled by PT Angkasa Rona Graha.

The National Sports Council deputy chairman Arie Soedewo said the council would cooperate with the media to promote the Games.

"The Minister (of Information, Hartono) said that he would support the council and the SEA Games consortium to successfully stage the event and regain the overall title," he said. (yan)