Chinese products charm Jakarta expo

Jovannes, a final-year university student in Indonesia, listens attentively as a woman at a display booth explains the workings of their filling, capping, and labeling machines — all made in China.

These machines were among the highlights at International Industrial Week Indonesia 2025, held last week in the capital Jakarta. On display were new models of automatic and semiautomatic machines used for handling a wide range of liquids, including adhesives, medicines, butter, honey, motor oil and sauces.

"This technology fits my idea," said Jovannes, who goes by one name.

According to organizer Meorient Exhibition International, the expo drew interest from more than 100,000 prospective buyers across Indonesia and neighboring Southeast Asian markets.

The event showcased more than 1,000 sets of high-priced equipment, mostly from China — in line with the Indonesian government's ambition to accelerate Industry 4.0, an integration of intelligent digital technologies into manufacturing and industrial processes to sharpen regional and global competitiveness.

H. Syamsul from Banten on Indonesia's Java Island looked amazed when observing booths that displayed smart technology for making bread and snack cakes.

"I just thought about whether new machines offered here are cheap enough so I can replace my old and outmoded equipment," Syamsul said.

Grace Zhao, export manager of Guangzhou Bossmai Machinery in China, said they had received a large number of visitors since the opening day of the exhibition who are curious to know the details of the equipment.

"Indonesia has a big potential, a big population, which means a big market," Zhao said. The company already has distributors who target medium- and large-scale buyers, she said.

A booth displaying new integrated house technology drew visitors' attention with prefabricated houses, foldable container houses and expandable container houses.

In Indonesia, such houses are becoming increasingly visible, particularly at building project sites, said Camila Fong, a manager at Guangdong Yabang Integrated Housing Technology in China.

Coco Zhang, a manager at Hangzhou Xitong Electric Technology in China, said her company already has an agent, a warehouse and an after-sales service center, all in Glodok, Jakarta's largest Chinatown.

Mahendra Rianto, chairman of the Indonesian Logistics Association, said they hope more and more companies in China will relocate their factories to Indonesia and that his organization will facilitate their logistics and supply chain activities.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.