Indonesia Solo Exhibition a major catalyst in boosting trade ties between Indonesia and Gulf region

The five-day show will commence at Expo Centre Sharjah on September 19, 2005.

"The Indonesia Solo Exhibition has over the last two years very successfully established itself as the region's most comprehensive trade event," said Mr. Fasahat Ali Khan, Acting Director General, Expo Centre Sharjah.

"In the last two editions, the Indonesia Solo Exhibition had witnessed very strong participation from Indonesian companies. Besides, the trade visitor turnout at the event had also been exceptionally high. The event has now undoubtedly become an important link in strengthening the commercial as well as cultural ties between Indonesia and the Gulf region in general, and the UAE in particular," he added.

Currently, Indonesia exports more than 3,000 items to the Middle East and Africa region with the number increasing steadily every year. Exports to the Middle East and Africa region constitute 6 percent of the country's total exports.

In 2004, Indonesia's total export was worth USD $ 71,585 million. Of this, Petroleum and Natural Gas accounted for USD $ 15,645 million and Non-petroleum products USD $ 55,939 million. As far as the GCC region was concerned, Indonesia's exports to the UAE during the same period was USD $ 745 million, constituting 1.04 per cent of its total exports. Saudi Arabia too was a major export destination in 2004 with USD $ 418 million worth of exports from Indonesia. Qatar, on the other hand, imported Indonesian goods worth USD $ 34 million during this period.

Both ISE 2003 and 2004 had attracted large numbers of trade visitors from Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.

ISE 2004 had attracted 21,053 visitors, of which 9,428 were trade visitors from 57 countries, and generated business worth USD $ 14 million.

"The ISE 2005 is a one-stop platform for businessmen and investors from the region who would like to source new products and services from Indonesia at an affordable price," said Mr. Khan.

ISE 2005 is being jointly organised by the National Agency for Export Development (NAFED) of the Indonesian Government's Ministry of Trade in close cooperation with the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Indonesian Consulate General in Dubai, and Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Show will feature products from the mining, agriculture, forestry, marine and plantation, food products, automotives, wood, household, chemicals, electronics, electrical, traditional herbal medicine and cosmetics, small scale and handicrafts industries in Indonesia.

Service sectors like tourism, banking and finance, transportation, and IT will also be prominently represented at the event. Other attractions will include travel and cultural publications and opportunities to interact with regional and provincial governments from Indonesia who are keen to promote tourism and attract investments.

Organisers of ISE 2005 have already held several highly successful Road Shows across the Gulf region including Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, to ensure that the event attracts a substantial number of high quality trade visitors.