"We see Indonesia as one of the important hubs for people to do business with people in the Southeast Asian countries," Larissa Zhou, general manager of Meorient Exhibition International, organizer of the four-day trade fair, said.

Zhou said that as Southeast Asia's biggest economy, Indonesia is expanding, bolstering demand for building materials, machinery, and industrial equipment. She said this is why the company decided in 2022 to hold the trade fair in the Indonesian capital.

The event now happens several times a year and Meorient will hold another two exhibitions in June and November.

The ongoing trade fair has booths featuring construction materials, textiles, home furnishings, appliances, and electronic items.

Ending Fadjar, a senior economic adviser to the governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), said holding the trade fair is "a concrete step that supports sustainable development".

Fadjar, who delivered a speech on behalf of acting Lemhannas Governor Maman Firmansyah, said the expo would encourage collaboration and cooperation in the infrastructure sector.

He said technology innovation supports and promotes an ecosystem that is environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Officials from Guangdong province, senior executives of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and representatives of Indonesian business associations attended the event.

Shuang Dehui, deputy director of the commerce department of Guangdong, expressed his appreciation for the event.

"We hope that this expo will continue serving as a bridge for various cooperation and collaboration opportunities for all sides," Shuang said at the opening ceremony.

Shuang also talked about the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and invited Indonesian firms "to take part" in its development.

Among the participants are representatives of the Association of Construction Materials, the Association of Retailers, the Federation of Information Technology, the Association of Interior Designers, the Association of Medium Enterprises, and the Association of Electrical Goods Producers.

Juwita Sari, who works in marketing in Jakarta, said she went to the expo to look at the booths showcasing China-made furniture as her company is interested in selling these products.

Pipit, an employee at ceramic tableware manufacturer Haeng Nam Sejahtera Indonesia, said that she and her colleague went to the trade fair to scout for items that they could resell.