“After the opening, the government officials disappeared,” Ambar said last week, adding that representatives from related departments should have visited, discussed, and analyzed the discussion results to provide input and solutions. “They gave nothing,” he said, disappointedly.

The association chairman, Ambar Tjahyono, said the lack of support was evident during the International Furniture and Craft Fair Indonesia at the Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran, held on March 11 to 15.

According to Ambar, the association had called on the government to be involved in improving furniture exports. Furniture businessmen need measures to support the rise of such a creative industry. The measures, Ambar said, may be in the form of real contributions, such as providing stimulus funds for promotions and exhibitions, full support for exhibitions, promotion costs, facilitating foreign buyers and inviting ambassadors to exhibitions.

Ambar said the government’s view that it was up to the private sector to develop the furniture industry in Indonesia must be changed. “This must not be the case. This should be a joint responsibility,” he affirmed.
According to Ambar, exhibitions have the potential to create a multiplyer effect, which will not only activate the economy in Jakarta, but also in the provinces.

After being open on Wednesday, March 11th 2009, the International Furniture & Craft Fair Indonesia exhibition (IFFINA) 2009 was attended by 1200 visitor. The exhibition which targeted business to business segment participated by 311 people from various cities in Indonesia and most of participant from foreign country display their special furniture with their own characteristic.

As IFFINA 2009 organizer, Dyandra conveyed their gratitude to ASMINDO and all parties involved in this exhibition. That is what Director of Dyandra Promosindo, Ernst K. Remboen, said in his speech on Buyers & Exhibitors Night IFFINA 2009, Thursday night, March 12th 2009 at Hall C1, Arena Pekan Raya Jakarta.

In this Buyers & Exhibitors Night event, hosted by Indra Herlambang, started with dinner, music show, games, Indonesian traditional dance show, and the announcement of The Best Stand Award IFFINA 2009 winner was the peak of the show which gathered buyers and exhibitors that night.

Dino, one of the buyer that came from Italia were really in to the event that night, he said that he was impressed with IFFINA 2009, even though this is not the biggest show he ever visited but IFFINA 2009 but he found great products and new suppliers from Indonesia. “This is not the biggest show I have visited, but the products in here are very good. I also got 6 new suppliers from here. And I will continue to look for Indonesian supplier.”

Similar with what Dino said, Cezar, young buyer from Polish said, “I got my self a very interesting event out here and this exhibition truly displays products with Indonesian characteristic. I got what I’m looking for and I will certainly come to the next year IFFINA event.”

The same enthusiasm was told by Jerry Tan, Chairman of ASEAN Furniture Industry Council (AFIC) who sat next to Asmindo Chairman, Ambar Cahyono that night. “IFFINA 2009 is a major breakthrough, from the product and quality point of view. Congratulation to Dyandra Promosindo and ASMINDO, all things are working well,” he praised.

Others than buyers, other great news also came from one of the exhibitors. Michael from Sydney Austria, who open up the Simplicity Gallery booth says, “This is my first time in IFFINA, and this is a very good show. It also really gives me a hand. I will surely participate in the next year IFFINA event.”

Buyers &Exhibitor Night IFFINA 2009 closed with the award winner announcement and winner cession. ASMINDO’s chairman, Ambar Cahyono and on of its member Oki Wijayanto got “Leaderships in Promoting the Use of Environmental Friendly Sources,” from Indonesia’s Eco-label Organization (Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia – LEI), for his attention to maintain public forest, the use of certificated timber, and helping the people who lives around the forest.

By: kanomedia, official press.