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.