'TECHNOGERMA' fully booked

JAKARTA (JP): Germany is promising to proceed with its plan to hold a major technology exhibition, called TECHNOGERMA, here in March next year despite the current economic crisis.

German Ambassador to Indonesia Heinrich Seemann said at a luncheon with the press yesterday that the expo would take place from March 1 through March 7, 1999 at the Jakarta Convention Center.

He said the event was fully booked and would be attended by 180 German firms.

The quadrennial TECHNOGERMA is the biggest presentation of German industry abroad, said Seemann. The last ones were in Seoul in 1991 and Mexico in 1994.

F. Kleinsteuber, director of the German-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ekonid), said the exhibition should attract 40,000 local visitors.

When asked why the exhibition was being held in a time of crisis, Kleinsteuber said that it had been planned since 1995. Besides, he said, Indonesia should start its economic recovery process next year, especially after the planned general election in May.

"That's why we will be here to welcome the recovery," he said. (rid)