The main export markets for Jakarta products in August were the United States (13.46 percent), Japan (11.99 percent) and Australia (7.22 percent).
Tanda Sirait, the agency's division head of statistics, said that in October, the export value to the United States dropped by 21.69 percent, Germany 8.66 percent and the United Kingdom 6.67 percent.
Fadhil said businessmen in the city had to look for other lucrative markets in South America, Middle East and Eastern Europe.
"The administration should also protect domestic products by implementing higher prices for imported products," he said.
As exports decreased, inflation in November was recorded at 0.34 percent. Until November, the inflation rate in Jakarta already reached 11 percent. The administration estimated that inflation would reach 11.5 percent this year.
The number of foreign tourists coming through the city's three main gates -- Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Halim Perdana Kusuma airport and Tanjung Priok port -- increased. In October, the number rose by 22.15 percent to 126,549 tourists from 103,605 tourists recorded in September.
Djamal said that of the total tourists, most came from Malaysia (16,130 visitors), Japan (9,959) and Singapore (9,346). Until October, Jakarta has recorded 1.25 million visitors. The target was 1.5 million foreign tourists this year.
"The number of foreign tourists may continue increasing because the rupiah is tipping. Tourists who normally stay two days will be able to extend their stays," he said.
Source: Tifa Asrianti , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 12/03/2008 10:59 AM | City
