Second Indonesia Solo Show a major success

'We are extremely satisfied with the visitor turnout at the 2nd Indonesia Solo Exhibition and also with the response that it had evoked in the region,' said Mr. Muchtar, Consul General of Indonesia in Dubai.

'The exhibitors were happy with the results of the Show and I am confident that a majority of them will return for the next edition,' he added.

Of the trade visitors to the 5-day event, a large majority were from the UAE followed by Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Some of the other countries from which a substantial number of trade visitors attended the exhibition were India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, UK, USA, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen among others.

'This year, 309 companies displayed their products at ISE, with better representation from across a wide range of exporters/manufacturers in Indonesia,' said Mr. Fasahat Ali Khan, Acting Director General, Expo Centre Sharjah.

'The large visitor turnout and the overwhelming response received from visitors across GCC was a result of that,' he added.

Some of the products that generated the maximum business at the 2nd Indonesia Solo Show were medical equipment, furniture, machinery, food and beverage, wooden products, building material, textile and garment, medicine herbs, agriculture products, cosmetics, handicrafts, automotive and spare parts, ceramic ware, toiletries, and electronic equipment, toys and games, apparel and accessories, and fashion accessories.

'The fact that medical equipment is top on the list of products that generated maximum business at the exhibition once again proves that Indonesian medical equipment manufacturers are a very strong force in global sales,' said Mr. Khan.

'Not only medical equipment manufacturers, but also Indonesian pharmaceutical companies are a force to reckon with globally. Indonesian companies produce 800 million doses of polio vaccine a year, or 40 % of the world demand,' he added.

Among the trade visitors with whom Indonesian companies conducted large business transactions during the Show, most were from UAE, Bahrain, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey, South Africa, Ukraine, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, and India. Total transaction with trade visitors from UAE amounted to USD $ 1,775,860.

Encouraged by the overwhelming response received during the event, organisers recently announced dates for the third edition of the event. The 3rd Indonesia Solo Exhibition will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from September 19-23, 2005.

The ISE is an annual trade event and is jointly organised by the National Agency for Export Development (NAFED), a unit of the Indonesian Government's Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Expo Centre Sharjah, with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

'The next year's edition of the Indonesia Solo Show will be even bigger. We will do everything to ensure that visitor turnout also increases. Currently, we are reviewing the products and the Indonesian companies that we will be bringing next year,' said Mr. Muchtar.