October 21, 2007

INDONESIA/TRADE:
Trade Expo (ITE) to be largest ever
Jakarta is gearing up to host Indonesia's largest ever trade fair next week, in which more than 960 local businesses and 3,000 potential international buyers will participate.

The 2007 Indonesian Trade Expo (ITE), scheduled to run from Oct. 23 to 27, is expected to help boost the country's export industry, which has been projected to grow this year by between 14.5 and 20 percent.

The Trade Expo will be the country's best and largest marketing avenue for leading exporters and is aimed at attracting thousands of potential buyers from abroad, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu was quoted Saturday by English daily The Jakarta Post as saying.

Mari said growth in areas other than the oil and gas sectors in Indonesia has been promising this year.

"Growth is quite high at around 19 to 20 percent, so now we are looking at how to make this growth rate sustainable. Trade exhibitions are obviously one way to boost exports," she said.

The highlight of the annual expo, which was first held in 1986, will be Indonesia's Icon Pavilion, which spans 6,000 square meters.

The pavilion will showcase the products of 213 companies and 44 service providers and will offer potential products for export including agro products such as coffee and crude palm oil, furniture and automobile parts.

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