INDONESIA PARTICIPATED AS PARTNER COUNTRY OF PLOVDIV INTERNATIONAL SPRING FAIR 2009

Plovdiv, 12 May 2009

Indonesia participated as partner country at the 29^th International Consumer Goods & Technologies Fair (International Spring Fair) in Plovdiv, 12-17 May 2009 with 28 Indonesian companies - representing a wide array of well known Indonesian exotic, unique and high quality products, such as furniture (wood, rattan, bamboo and other natural products), jewelry (gold, silver and gemstone products), handicraft, garment and textile, leather products, footwear, bags, lighting and home accessories. Minister for Economy and Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria, H.E. Mr. Petar Dimitrov, who opened the Fair stated Bulgaria’s appreciation for Indonesian participation as Partner Country. The participation of Indonesia as a big and important country as well as member of the G20, along with contingents from other great nations e.q. USA, Russia and France added great significance of the Fair despite of the global economic crisis. The decision taken by the Indonesian Government to participate at the Fair amidst global economic crisis was indeed a brave and commendable, he added. The Minister also stated his country’s determination to assist Indonesia to market its highly demanded products to Bulgaria and into European market through Bulgaria.

The opening ceremony was attended among others by the Minister of Transportation of the Republic of Bulgaria, H.E. Mr. Petar Moutafchiev; Ambasador Inkiriwang; the Head of Indonesian trade delegation/Chairman of the National Agency for Trade Development in the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Bachrul Chairi; Director Executive of the International Fair Plovdiv (IFP) AD, Mr. Georgi Gergov; Director General of IFP AD, Mr. Ivan Sokolov; Governor of Plovdiv, Mr. Todor Petkov; Mayor of Plovdiv, Slavcho Atanasov; and foreign ambassadors. 

For 4 years in-a-row, Indonesia has always been participating at the International Spring Fair. This year for the first time Indonesia participated as partner country, coordinated by the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Ministry of Cooperative and Small & Medium Enterprises, and the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (under the National Task Force for Export and Investment Promotion).

After the opening ceremony, Minister Dimitrov, Ambassador Inkiriwang and the Head of Indonesian Trade Delegation and other VIPs walked to Pavillion 3 where the Indonesian stand is located, accompanied by 2 becaks (Indonesian traditional transportation vehicle), dancers from the Pesona Mawar Nusantara, the dance group of the Embassy, as well as one dancer wearing Hanoman (hero from the wayang folklore) costume. At Pavillion 3, the VIPs were again greeted by dancers from the the Head of Indonesian Trade Delegation. Minister Dimitrov and the Head of Indonesian Trade Delegation then cut the ribbon in front of the Indonesian stand and inspect the stands of the Indonesian companies.

529 companies participated at the Fair comprising 409 Bulgarian and 118 foreign companies from 22 countries. Indonesian trade delegation occupied 310 m2 space, the largest after the space occupied by Bulgarian companies.