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THE INDONESIAN Meeting, Incentive, Convention, Exhibition (MICE) industry is preparing to take a major step to strengthen its position in the global market. With the INDES and IBEF (Indonesia Business Event Forum) exhibitions on November 5-6, 2024 at the Jakarta Convention Center, the Indonesian association and government are increasingly convinced that the MICE sector, especially the exhibition industry, has great potential to boost the national economy.
The holding of the INDES event, now in its 4th year and the 9th IBEF, is a symbol of the importance of cooperation between the business sector and the government in supporting the growth of the MICE industry.
According to Hosea Andreas Runkat, Chairman General of ASPERAPI (Indonesian Association of Exhibition Companies), said that the INDES and IBEF exhibitions are not only business events, but also a manifestation of the MICE industry’s commitment to be better known in the eyes of the world. This is a show of force by ASPERAPI to show that the Indonesian exhibition industry can no longer be underestimated. MICE have great potential and a huge impact on the economy.
“On this occasion, ASPERAPI hopes that the government can better understand the MICE sector, especially to support the development of this industry in the next five years. Our biggest challenge is how to maintain cooperation and synergy between business and government. If we can unite, this industry will grow faster,” he added.
Meanwhile, representing the government, Director of Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism, Firnandi Gufron, said the government strongly supports the MICE sector because of its significant contribution to quality tourism.
“A MICE event can attract up to 2,000 international participants, which has a direct impact on economic sectors such as accommodation, transportation and restaurants. The government is also preparing concrete steps to improve the sustainability of the MICE sector. “We are mapping venues that meet sustainability standards and will upgrade those that do not meet international standards,” he affirmed.
Firnandi also explained that the government is accelerating the development of sustainable MICE with the aim of being ready by 2030, although the roadmap for the sector is planned until 2050. This is in line with the global trend towards sustainability in all aspects of the industry.
To support the development of the MICE sector, the government, through the Ministry of Tourism, has also launched the MICE.id platform. This platform aims to be an information hub and aggregator that connects all stakeholders in the MICE industry.
“MICE.id provides the latest data on venues, number of hotel rooms and other facilities to make it easier for industry players to get the information they need. Through MICE.id, it is hoped that all sectors involved will be able to access information more efficiently, thus supporting more appropriate business decisions and accelerating the development of this sector,” Firnandi noted.
On the same occasion, Mark Cochrane, Regional Director Asia/Pacific of UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) shared his views on the development of the exhibition industry in Indonesia.
According to Mark, Indonesia is one of the most promising markets in Asia with very rapid growth. “Large investments in infrastructure, such as new venues with a capacity of up to 60,000 m², will be an important factor in supporting the development of the exhibition industry in Indonesia,” Mark admitted.
However, Mark also highlighted the challenges of a slowing global economy, particularly in China, which could affect many international exhibitions. Nevertheless, Indonesia remains an attractive market for many international players looking to expand their reach in Southeast Asia.
As part of the global drive towards sustainability, UFI has also adopted Net Zero Carbon Events, a commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. “We invite all members to participate in this global effort,” explained Mark.
With more international players interested in the Indonesian market and the push to present more sustainable events, the outlook for the Indonesian exhibition industry is increasingly bright.
All parties hope that the cooperation between the business sector, the government and international organizations such as UFI will further strengthen Indonesia’s position as the center of the MICE industry in Asia.
Looking ahead, the INDES and IBEF events in 2025 will be even bigger and more diverse, with more international participation. It is planned that these two events will also be combined with the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA) Congress in November 2025, which is expected to have a positive impact on the Indonesian MICE industry.
With various initiatives and efforts underway, Indonesia’s MICE sector is increasingly poised to grow faster and become a key player in the global market. “We are confident that this event will further demonstrate that Indonesia is ready to compete internationally,” Hosea Andreas Runkat concluded. [traveltext]
