The Eco-products International Fair (EPIF), Asia’s largest international exhibition of advanced eco-technology, -products, and -services, began its four-day run at the Balai Sidang Jakarta Convention Center on 4 March with the theme “Green Productivity to Enhance Competitiveness.” The EPIF opening ceremony featured celebratory messages from many involved in this international environmental festival and was graced by numerous dignitaries representing the Indonesian government and private sector along with international guests, all of whom support eco-innovation and eco-initiatives.
Inside Balai Sidang Jakarta Convention Center
Guests of honor wearing Indonesian batik at the opening ceremony
Vice Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) Rachmat Gobel opened the event by welcoming domestic and overseas guests. He was followed by EPIF 2010 Preparatory Committee Chairperson Teisuke Kitayama, who is also Chairman of the Board of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Chairperson Kitayama shared his EPIF experience and introduced the supporting activities of the members of the Green Productivity Advisory Committee. Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Muhaimin Iskandar then took the stage to welcome all and express his appreciation to the coorganizers and supporters of the event. Minister Iskandar underlined the importance of Green Productivity and competitiveness, the two key words in the theme of the 2010 EPIF, to his ministry. He noted that the Green Productivity concept promotes the incorporation of environmental consideration into manufacturing at all levels. For improved competitiveness, he highlighted two important factors: human resources and environmental quality, noting that, “The EPIF promotes an appreciation of knowledge workers and the quality of life for economic and business activity in all countries.”
APO Secretary-General Shigeo Takenaka thanked the Indonesian government for its support and commitment in hosting this landmark event. He offered special thanks to the two coorganizers, the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration and KADIN. Secretary-General Takenaka also mentioned that special significance had been attached to selecting Indonesia as the host country of the sixth EPIF due to its economic power and ongoing environmental efforts. “We at the APO have done our best to ensure that the scale of the sixth EPIF in Jakarta matches the scale of the country and the depth of its commitment to the environment,” he pointed out.
The EPIF 2010 has already broken records since it has the largest exhibition area and most exhibitors, comprising 119 Indonesian enterprises and 35 Japanese corporations combined with exhibitors from Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. With the enthusiastic support of the host country, it is expected that the number of visitors will break the 100,000 mark for the first time.
The newly published Eco-products Directory 2010 also debuted at the opening ceremony. The 2010 edition contains 1,000 eco-materials, -components, -products, and -services. Professor Ryoichi Yamamoto, the University of Tokyo, Japan, who is also the Chairperson of the Committee for the Establishment of an Eco-products Database, presented the first copy to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Radjasa, who then delivered the keynote address before announcing the official opening of the EPIF. A four-day parallel international conference on the same theme also opened on 4 March with opening remarks made by Chairperson Kitayama.
The EPIF is a regional mega event that assembles key international players and executives from leading corporations operating in the environmental sector, government officials, and researchers under one roof. Starting with the 2004 EPIF in Malaysia, subsequent fairs were held in Thailand (2005), Singapore (2005), Vietnam (2008), and the Philippines (2009). Each one promoted the concept that productivity improvement can be achieved or even accelerated when it is pursued in an eco-friendly, sustainable manner. Like its predecessors, the EPIF 2010 is expected to demonstrate the innovativeness, competitiveness, and marketability of eco-friendly products and services offered by participating enterprises, institutions, organizations, and other groups involved in protecting the environment.
