The outlook is strong for indometal 2018, the international metal and steel trade fair for Southeast Asia scheduled to take place in Jakarta from 17 to 19 October 2018 at JI Expo, Kemayoran. With under a year to go before the opening of the 3-day event, potential exhibitor participation has been very positive with almost half of the targeted 200 exhibitors already showing their commitment. More than 75% of exhibitors to indometal are expected to come from outside Indonesia, together with international representation from national pavilions and country groups such as China, Germany, Italy, and Taiwan.
According to Ms Beattrice J. Ho, Project Director of indometal coorganised by Messe Düsseldorf Asia, Indonesia is a growing hotspot for the export market as steel production is shifting from mature to emerging economies. “This bodes well for Indonesia and the region as the industry prepares for growth and development. Although steel from China is still expected to dominate for many years, strong global demand is driving efforts in countries like Indonesia and Vietnam to build more modern plants to better compete with China’s enormous mills,” she said. Efforts are already underway to improve local processing and smelting industries to reduce the nation’s dependence on imports.
Indonesia strong importer
With domestic manufacturers only able to produce a fraction of Indonesia’s steel needs, the country imports nearly half of its steel demands. The Indonesian government aims to see domestic steel production capacity rise to 12 million tons by 2019, followed by 17 million tons by 2024, and to 25 million tons by 2035. However, this target - set in the National Industry Development Masterplan by Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry - will require private investor involvement.
“Against this backdrop, Indonesia is a model location for a specialised trade fair such as indometal which presents a comprehensive spectrum of products and solutions in the metal and steel value chain which will be critical for domestic producers looking to upgrade their technology and to remain competitive in the industry, as well as provide a one-stop platform for international companies looking to invest and enlarge their footprint in Indonesia and the region.”
Beattrice J. Ho, Project Director of indometal
Expanding on the optimistic stance of the Indonesian market, Mr Sofianto Widjaja, General Manager, WAKENI, said Indonesia’s focus is on improving the quality of and infrastructure development, from new roads and irrigation channels to large-scale power transmission projects to completion of the high-speed rail line. “Indonesia’s economic transformation is picking up steam and it is at the very forefront of the boom in infrastructure redevelopment taking place across Southeast Asia. Companies should prepare themselves for a whole new world of opportunities.”
Industry Analysts predict growth
According to industry analysts, Indonesia is expected to be the 6th largest economy worldwide by 2020, meaning that it will have grown bigger than both Brazil and Russia. This is partly due to a growing middle class, expected to reach 250 million consumers by 2030 – and partly due to its richness in natural resources, as well as its young and increasingly well-educated population. While for the Southeast Asian region, the shortage of adequate infrastructure will see the region needing some US$26 trillion of investment by 2030 according to the Asian Development Bank.
Jointly organised by Messe Düsseldorf Asia and PT. Wahana Kemalaniaga Makmur (WAKENI), indometal has gained momentum and recognition as a world-class quality exhibition focused on the synergistic interrelations of foundry technology, casting products, metallurgy and thermoprocess technology. Since it started in 2013, indometal continues to augment the regional market with a showcase of new solutions for better production and processing efficiency and new market innovations reflecting market trends, and changes and demands of the metal and steels industries. In 2018, the exhibition will focus on machinery and equipment optimisation, retooling and steelmaking technology and resource and cost efficient solutions and applications. This is the opportune time for companies to be part of Southeast Asia’s economic growth story.
At Indometal 2018, the show floor will be represented by: foundry plants and equipment, die-casting machines and melting operations, to plant manufacturers, suppliers of plant and equipment for iron making, steel making and non-ferrous metal production and as well as rolling and steel mills. Additionally, industrial furnaces, industrial heat treatment plants and thermal processes, casting machinery and pouring equipment can also be expected.
For more information on spacing booking and information on indometal 2018, please visit <link http: www.indometal.net external-link-new-window internal link in current>www.indometal.net.
