As Indonesia’s government relaxes rules and movement restrictions across the country, event planners breathe easier as business events – mostly in hybridised formats – are allowed to take place.
Currently ongoing until November 21, 2021, is the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), held at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition in Tangerang. It will then be staged at the Grand City Convex in Surabaya, East Java, from December 8-12, 2021.
For both events, strict enforcement of health protocols are currently in place, and only fully-vaccinated individuals have been allowed entry.
GIIAS however, will still be engaging with its virtual audience through its Auto360 app, which will allow virtual attendees to sign up for test drives, test rides, seminars, and talks online.
From October 27-29, 2021, the Indonesia International Halal Lifestyle Conference and Forum was also held in a hybrid format at Jakarta Convention Centre.
Speaking at IECA (Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association) Afternoon Tea at Ciputra Artpreneur Jakarta, Wini Yoniton, the association’s executive director, said that a number of exhibitions by association members have been lined up for the coming months.
She shared that IECA itself is “planning to participate at the Expo 2020 Dubai in January”, and “host a national conference in February 2022”.
Hosea Andreas Runkat, chairman of IECA, shared: “It is easier to obtain a permit to hold (B2C) exhibitions now. Now, the challenge for us is to ensure that all events strictly implement CHSE (Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environmental Sustainability) protocols. A slight slip may cause the authorities to decline an organiser’s request for a permit for their next event.”
In response to this, IECA has formed a task force to help observe and monitor the implementation of CHSE protocols at events. They will be going around, and advising and reminding organisers to keep to prevailing rules.
When asked for his opinion on the possible resumption of international B2B events, Andreas lamented it would be a “challenge not only for Indonesia”, but for buyers returning home, they would still be required to serve quarantine.
