Textile expos expected to bring in $5m

Eighty-three companies from 17 countries are participating in two major textile machinery exhibitions at the Jakarta International Expo Center in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Organizers of the four-day Seventh International Textile and Garment Machinery and Accessories Exhibition and Indo Textile 2005 show expected on-site deals to reach between $4 and $5 million.

The exhibitions -- which were opened on Tuesday by Ministry of Industry official Agus Tjahajana -- featured machinery for spinning, cutting, knitting, dyeing, sewing, pressing and embroidering (photo above) textiles and garments.

"This is a place to make contacts, more deals should happen over the next six months," organizer Purwono said. The machines on show cost between US$20,000 and $250,000 each, he said.

Dorhailay, the export manager at Surakarta-based garment manufacturer Sari Warna Asli Group, was optimistic the textile business had more potential for growth.

"All this talk about it being a sunset industry is nonsense," Dorhailay said.

"They've been saying this for 30 years, since when I first got into the business."

"And I am still here."

Textile exports reached $7.75 billion last year, making it the country's largest non-oil and gas export. -- JP/002