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E K O N I D
Wisma Jerman
In 2014, the Ekonid office in Surabaya started to take
advantage of the newly renovated premises. In February
we started conducting a monthly business gathering we
named German Business Club Surabaya (GBCS). Every
first Thursday of every month we invite members and
non-members for a presentation about any matters
of interest being linked to East Java. Our guests 2014
were representatives of important business associations
like Apindo and BPM, informing about the process of
the regulation of minimum wages or the advantages
of East Java as an investment location. Others were
representatives of local Ekonid member companies
introducing themselves and their products to the
audience. But also non-member companies who liked
to introduce themselves to the East Javanese business
audience took this event as a platform to become part
of the GBCS meetings and promote their products and
services. After the presentations the guests got the
opportunity to gather and discuss more detailed while
enjoying a dinner together.
A highlight of the GBCS meetings was the visit to the
TUBAFA building site of ThyssenKrupp in Tuban, where
ThysenKrupp is currently building a cement production
factory, mandated by PT. Holcim Indonesia. The GM of the
site, Michael Menne, showed us around and explained to
us about cement production and the challenges being faced
during such projects. Some of the most popular meetings
were the introduction of Klose International Service,
a German logistics company based in Malaysia and
interested to become insight into the Indonesian market,
as well as TÜV Süd Indonesia which was introduced with
its services by General Manager Eric Paulsen.
On the occasion of an International Joint Business
Gathering which was conducted by several European
and non-European chambers in May, Dr. Thorsten
Hutter, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of the
Department for Economics and Global Affairs in the
German Embassy, and Jan Rönnfeld, Managing Director
of EKONID visited Surabaya and became speakers of
the 8th GBCS meeting which took place at Sheraton
Surabaya. On this occasion they discussed about the
future of Indonesian-German relations, especially with
respect to the coming Asean Economic Community.
Another important highlight was the 3rd Oktoberfest which
was celebrated on October 25th at the Sheraton Surabaya
Hotel. 400 guests – 30% more than the year before –
enjoyed this party with a perfect German Oktoberfest
atmosphere. The German band Discofox, together with DJ
Chris Kyriß provided a colorful musical mix of German
“Schlager”, classical Oktoberfest hits and international
popular songs from the sixties up to now! Sheraton
with its well known kitchen team added mouthwatering
German dishes, beginning from porknuckles, various
kinds of bread and sausages, cheeses and potato dishes –
nothing was missing! All this was completed by the free
flow of beer and of course the fantastic moderation and
games MC Hubert Born had prepared. Beer, food, games
and music - all together was such a perfect mixture that
the audience was dancing until late night, not only on the
dance floor but of course on benches and tables just like a
good Oktoberfest has to be!
For the coming year 2015, EKONID will go on with its
regular networking meetings in the premises of Wisma
Jerman as this has become a regular and well known
format. Of course there will be an Oktoberfest again and
international joint gatherings in cooperation with other
chambers and international business organizations.
Furthermore we would like to deepen our cooperation
with local players, companies and business communities
who are active in the business field.
