BUYERS WELCOME: (JP/J. Adiguna)President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened Wednesday the 10th Jakarta International Handicraft Trade Fair (Inacraft), the biggest annual handicraft expo in the country.

Yudhoyono said the government expected the fair to attract 200,000 visitors, generate Rp 70 billion in retail sales and US$7.5 million in business contracts, as well as 1,000 foreign buyers from 85 countries.

Inacraft, which is organized by the Indonesian Handicraft Producers and Exporters (ASEPHI), will run until April 27 at the Jakarta Convention Center.

This year, the fair involves 1,700 domestic and foreign participants offering a wide range of handicrafts, including jewelry, textiles, accessories and traditional decorations.

In 2007, Inacraft involved 1,650 participants generating Rp 67.14 billion in retail sales and $6.43 million in business contracts.

Yudhoyono said the handicraft industry contributed Rp 105 trillion to gross domestic product (GDP) last year and created five million new jobs. Handicraft exports, valued at $620 million, grew by 19.5 percent on 2006.

"Although export is important, don't focus only on exporting. Promote and offer the products to Indonesians who are able to buy them."

He said the domestic market was still strong and would get stronger if people's purchasing power increased.

The President also encouraged handicraft workers to keep increasing production and quality in line with increasing demand. -- JP/Novia D. Rulistia

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