The 25th TEI was officially opened by Vice President Boediono  and runs until Sunday showcasing Indonesia’s best actual and potential export products and services.

Among the best products being showcased are shrimps, coffee, palm oil, cocoa, rubber, textiles, footwear, electronics and auto parts while the potentially promising products for exports include handicrafts, fisheries products, medical herbs, leather products, processed food and jewelry.

Besides tangible commodities, TEI also showcased three main non-tangible services including the creative industry, research and development and information technology.

The expo aims to bring in US$300 million in trade transactions and is attended by 810 participants ranging from small and medium enterprises, cooperatives, private companies and state-owned enterprises.

The Trade Ministry also invited 8,000 buyers from 100 countries, including Canada, Colombia, India, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Slovakia,  South Africa, South Korea and many others.

“I expect the expo can become an international event with more foreign delegates coming,” the Vice President said in his opening remarks.

He added the expo was an important instrument to help achieve Indonesia’s economic development.
According to the Trade Ministry, Indonesia’s average export volume increased six times from $20 billion per year 25 years ago to an average of more than $100 billion  in the past five years.

Earlier this month, the Central Statistics Agency recorded that Indonesia’s monthly exports climbed to their highest value ever in August, totaling US$13.71 billion, a 9.76 percent increase from the $12.49 billion recorded in July. Previously the record was $13.35 billion set in December 2009.

Non-oil and gas exports reached $11.77 billion in August, a 10.94 percent increase from $10.60 billion in the previous month. Meanwhile, oil and gas exports reached $1.94 billion in August, a 3.12 percent
increase from $1.88 billion in the previous month.

Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said that the TEI’s annual event in Jakarta had played an important role showcasing exports.

“For the last 25 years, Indonesia’s exports have been growing with more diversification from oil and gas commodities to non-oil and gas products,” she said.

Mari added that back in the 1980s, oil and gas commodities dominated exports while non-oil and gas commodities dominated the export picture covering more than 70 percent of export financial volume while oil and gas accounted for 24 percent.

She also said that Indonesia’s non-oil and gas exports were now diversified including aircraft
parts, construction services, zippers, wigs, fake eyelashes and musical instruments.

Besides product diversification, Mari also emphasized the expansion of the market saying that compared to 25 years ago, Indonesia’s export destinations now were much more diversified and did not depend on traditional markets.

Trade ministry data showed that 25 years ago, two-thirds of Indonesian export markets were focused on Japan (43 percent), the US (17 percent), Germany (3 percent) and the Netherlands (3 percent).

Currently, the traditional markets have to only one-third and Indonesia ha tarted to explore emerging markets, such as China, Eastern Europe, India, Malaysia and Taiwan.

In conjunction with the expo opening ceremony, the trade ministry also presented the Primaniyarta Award to the 33 best exporters.

The Primaniyarta Award is an export award given to local companies which have outstanding performance in the international market. (map)

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