The ninth Jakarta Auto Expo expected to lure record crowds
The ninth Jakarta Auto Expo expected to lure record crowds
By Russell Williamson
The 1996 Jakarta Auto Expo is expected to attract as many as 250,000 visitors over the week that it is running.
The expo opens today and runs until Sunday Aug. 4 and is open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free of charge.
Last year, the expo -- organized by the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo) -- saw 100,000 people pass through the doors of the Jakarta Convention Center with just seven sole agents participating.
This year, however, with every manufacturer and assembler showing vehicles, the organizers have high hopes of the event being a great success.
The local importers and assemblers have been able to bring in nearly 35 completely built up cars to demonstrate what is happening in the automotive world around the globe.
Although some of these new models may not end up being sold in Indonesia, the purpose is to show what is happening in areas such as automotive technology and design.
Another event which will well and truly put Indonesia on the global automotive map is a one-day international seminar titled Indonesian Automotive Development. Sponsored by Gaikindo and The Jakarta Post, the July 29 seminar will feature speakers from some of the largest automotive manufacturing nations around the world who will give presentations on a number of diverse topics.
The keynote speaker will be Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo. With Indonesia's auto industry going through a great period of upheaval and development, the timing of this seminar is very appropriate and is sure to offer something for everyone involved in the industry.
Other speakers will include Abdul Shukor Mohamed, group executive chairman of USRA Sdn Bhd, Malaysia, who will speak on Vendors Management: an Experience, and Nobuaki Wakita from the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association, whose topic will be Harmonization in ASEAN.
Global vehicle design will be addressed by Mitchell Mackey of the Automotive Newsroom in Australia, while the affect of motor vehicles on the environment is the topic of discussion to be presented by Dr. Ing. G. Baumbach of Stuttgart University, Germany.
The current status of the Indonesian automotive industry is the topic to be presented by Dr. Sri Mulyani from University of Indonesia and Ir. Purwosutrisno Sudarmadi of PT Panutan Selaras will speak on fuel and lubricant quality improvement.
A third significant event took place on July 25 and July 26. It was the first meeting of the ASEAN Automotive Federation (AAF) since 1983 and its aim was to bring the organization together once again to develop strategies for the future of the automotive industry in ASEAN nations.
The AAF is made up of auto industry associations from all the member states, such as Indonesia's Gaikindo, and will help to chart out a cooperative development plan which will benefit the growing auto industries in the region.
Many U.S. and European carmakers have recognized the ASEAN region as one of the largest potential markets and the reestablishment of the AAF will ensure the local companies continue to have a voice on the global automotive stage.
These three events demonstrate to both the people of Indonesia and the government that the auto industry is serious about its development and is prepared to take on the challenges of the future in a mature and responsible manner.