The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia/PTRI in Vienna organized for the second time the Wohnen & Interiuer Exhibition, the biggest annual furniture exhibition event in Austria, with 10 large MSME entrepreneurs, Indonesian Ambassador to Vienna, Austria, Dr Darmansyah Djumala noted in a written statement received by Antara London on Monday.
At the opening of the exhibition, Ambassador Djumala highlighted the large export potential of Indonesian wood products to Austria.
This is apparent from the significant increase of 278 percent in exports from 2016 to 2018.
Djumala said this figure reflected the opportunities that entrepreneurs believed should not be missed out.
By participating in this exhibition, Djumala said they are keen to further promote this potential, so that it can be realized into a real business activity.
This event offers a platform for Indonesian and Austrian furniture companies to hold one-on-one meetings, exchange contacts, and follow up with concrete business partnerships, Ambassador Djumala explained.
He said Indonesia was the first country in the world to be able to issue the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade or FLEGT licenses.
With these licenses, the legality of Indonesian wood products exported to the European Union has been guaranteed and is certainly produced by taking into account environmental sustainability.
Hence, Indonesia must optimize FLEGT licensing procedures to boost the exports of wood and wood-based products to Europe, including Austria.
To encourage the optimal use of FLEGT Licenses, a Business Forum between Indonesia and Austria was held on the sidelines of the exhibition.
On the occasion, representatives from the two countries, both from government and employers, will utilize the opportunity to hold a dialogue in utilizing FLEGT License and discuss various obstacles and challenges faced in implementing FLEGT and find solutions.
The Indonesian booth at this year`s Wohnen & Interiuer Exhibition presented furniture companies, both first-timers and earlier participants, with the figure doubling from only five in the previous year.
This demonstrates the increasing interest of Indonesian furniture entrepreneurs to export to Austria and the high market potential in Austria for Indonesian furniture products.
A follow-up order for interior design of residences or apartments for rent were outlined for visitors to the Indonesia Stand on the first day of the exhibition.
Over the next nine days, Indonesian entrepreneurs are expected to be able to attract new partners in Austria and other Central European countries to increase exports to Europe that have been carried out, including Germany and Italy.
This exhibition was attended by more than 750 companies from European countries, including Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Hungary, and Czech, and had more than 80 thousand visitors.
Reporting by Zeynita Gibbon, Eliswan Azly
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
