New Forum brings govt and exporters together

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 03/09/2006 7:39 AM | Business

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Trade Ministry's National Agency for Export Development (Nafed) has established an export forum aimed at building better communication between the government and exporters.

""This forum is an outlet where exporters can express their complaints and concerns about current business trends to the government through the Trade Ministry and Nafed,"" Nafed executive coordinator Reynald Kasali told a press conference prior to the forum's first seminar, titled ""From Local to Global Brands"", which was held at the Mulia hotel in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Speakers at the seminar included Director General Hantarto Reksodiputro of the Trade Ministry, PT Indofood Sukses Makmur director Philip S. Purnama and Grand Furniture chairman Robert Manan. The seminar discussed strategies for building brand awareness for Indonesian products on the export market.

Rhenald said the forum would also function as a channel for the government to inform exporters about export regulations.

According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia's exports increased by almost 20 percent from US$69.7 billion in 2004 to $85.6 billion last year.

The growth was the result of soaring sales of non-oil and gas commodities such as coal, copper, palm oil, and textiles and garments.

But Indonesian Textile Association (API) chairman Benny Soetrisno questioned how such growth was possible, pointing out that last year the association saw 77 export-oriented textile and garment manufacturers cease operations.

Rhenald said that he hoped the forum would be able to provide the government with immediate feedback from industry regarding trade regulations, and current business and trade issues.

International business trends, Rhenald said, were subject to rapid change, forcing exporters to increase their competitiveness in terms of quality, pricing and branding.

Rhenald said the forum would hold seminars in six cities: Jakarta, Surabaya in East Java, Semarang in Central Java, Yogyakarta, Medan in North Sumatra and Makassar in South Sulawesi.

""These are the cities where our major exporters are located,"" he said, adding that a total of 10 seminars would be held in Jakarta, eight each in Surabaya, Semarang and Yogyakarta, and five each in Makassar and Medan. (01)

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