VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia`s business delegation showcasing household products has recorded potential transactions worth US$1.3 million at the International Home + Housewares 2018 Exhibition (IHHS 2018) held at the McCormick Place, Chicago, the United States. Head of the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in Chicago Billy Anugrah remarked that the US market had responded positively to the exhibition, with potential deals amounting to $1.3 million recorded from 47 transactions.

"This result is quite satisfactory, considering it is the first time we are attempting to introduce some new household products from Indonesia," Anugrah informed Antara in Jakarta, on Wednesday.

In addition, some big buyers -- Wal Mart and Baum Dinnerware -- are scheduled to visit Indonesia in April 2018 to observe the production process of one of Indonesia`s exhibitors from Sragen, Central Java Province.

"The visit is aimed at observing the synthetic rattan production process as well as signing a purchase contract," Anugrah noted.

In a bid to open up opportunities to export products, especially household items, to the United States, ITPC Chicago is facilitating Indonesian businessmen to participate in the IHHS 2018 exhibition, the second-largest of its kind for household products. The Indonesian pavilion occupied four booths spread over 400 square meters, featuring brooms, modern mops, melamine cutlery, synthetic rattan crafts, and glassware.

During the exhibition, more than 150 potential buyers from various companies from the United States and other countries, such as Japan, Mexico, China, Brazil, Argentina, and Haiti, visited the Indonesian Pavilion.

Data obtained from the Indonesian Ministry of Trade indicated that the total value of US imports in 2017 for household products made from glass was $977 million. Indonesia is ranked 25th, with an export value of $2.9 million. Meanwhile, the US imports of plastic-based hygiene tools reached $4.9 billion, and Indonesia had only contributed $8.9 million, or 0.17 percent, of the total import value of the US.

However, Indonesia is the second-largest exporter of household products made from ceramics and porcelain. In 2017, the US imports of such products stood at $418 million, while Indonesia`s exports had reached $38 million. (antara)