By Joey Aguilar
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In a move to further enhance the trade relations with Qatar, the Indonesian embassy in Doha is exhorting businessmen, traders and residents in Qatar to attend its biggest annual expo which will be held from October 8 to 12 in Jakarta.
Dubbed as the “29th Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI),” the event aims to promote Indonesian-made products and services by its Small and Medium Enterprises to the global market.
Ambassador Deddy Saiful Hadi said TEI 2014 is expected to expand business and investment networking, enhance potentials and opportunities for traders and for those who are seeking to venture in Indonesia’s industrial sectors.
“The theme is ‘Remarkable Indonesia.’ It was selected to reflect the wide range of products, services and investment destinations which Indonesia is ready to offer,” said the
ambassador.
The expo will have six product zones and one export development pavilion. These zones will showcase agricultural products, manufactured goods, investment and services, furniture, fashion, lifestyle and creative products, furnishing and building materials, premium products from provinces and garden furniture.
Hadi noted that attendees will have the opportunity to visit about 2,000 exhibitors from all over Indonesia showcasing the latest premium, quality and export-ready products and services. The previous expo had attracted 1,511 exhibitors and 9,343 visitors.
“The visitors will be given the chance to interact with Indonesian government officials, business leaders and entrepreneurs to gain new insights,” he said.
The embassy will also assign some its staff to accompany businessmen from Qatar to
Indonesia.
The envoy has expressed optimism that the expo will further enhance the trade relation between Qatar and Indonesia.
He earlier cited an increase in the bilateral trade volume between the two countries last year, surpassing the $1.6bn record set in 2012. Indonesia is now focusing on improving its non-oil exports to Qatar ranging from consumption products to a variety of construction materials, according to the envoy. Its non-oil exports reached $88mn from January to November in 2012, a 26% increase on the $74mn figure in 2011 in the same period. Products ranged from shoes, electronics, building and construction materials, furniture and food items.
In March, the embassy has opened an outlet for high-end Indonesian home decorations and furniture at Ezdan mall in a bid to introduce and feature authentic Indonesian-made products in the Qatari market.
Indonesia also held roadshows last year to woo Qatar residents to visit its capital city, offering a variety of tourism packages for travellers from Qatar and other Gulf countries.
Besides 30 golf courses, Jakarta alone has 274 conservation and historical buildings featuring astounding architectural designs.
The South East Asian nation has a population of 250mn where 85% are Muslims. The rest comprises some 300 different ethnic groups, cultures and languages. Indonesia, which has more than 13,000 islands, is now a member of G20 and the $1tn-economy club.
