TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Around 18 Indonesian furniture lighting and interior lifedata-style companies have successfully acquired 397 requests from potential buyers in "Lifedata-style Vietnam International Trade Fair 2014". The exhibition was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on April 18-21.

The companies are estimated to have signed trade contract of US$1.15 million. "It is 69.4 percent more that last year's US$680,000," said the Ministry of Trade's director general of national export development, Nus Nuzulia, yesterday.

Nus said Indonesian lifedata-style products drew interest of buyers from Japan, Hong Long, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Britain, Portugal, Australia, Israel, Kuwait, the United States and Vietnam. "There were very interested in lighting products made of wood combined with glass, wood appliances, wood furniture, interior products made of recycled paper and bamboo products," said Nus.

Indonesian participants also had the chance to introduce and promote Indonesian brands to international market, such as PT Talenta Nusantara Indokarya, producer of copper lamp and CV Torang Raja, producer of zipper lamp. Their well-designed products sparked admiration from the visitors.

Nus said the Ministry of Trade had targeted export in 2014 to reach US$190 billion, or 4.1 percent increase of last year's. Non-oil and gas exports for wood products and furniture are targeted to grow 5.5-6.5 percent or around US$9.4-9.5 billion, while art products around 7-8 percent or around US$721-728 million.

PINGIT ARIA