A shopping paradise?<\/p>\n
With the rupiah still unstable, this may not seem like the
\nmost appropriate time to talk about turning Jakarta into a
\nshopping paradise to rival Singapore, London, Hong Kong and other
\nlong-famed shopper destinations in the world.<\/p>\n
Yet, this is exactly what Jakarta's administrators and private
\ndevelopers seem to have in mind.<\/p>\n
As if to forestall events from slowing down or stopping the
\nambitious project, its launch is scheduled to take place tomorrow
\nin a ceremony presided over by Jakarta's Governor Surjadi
\nSoedirdja.<\/p>\n
According to the plan, the city's new International Tourist
\nand Shopping Belt, as the project is officially called, will
\noccupy an area of 100 hectares on Jalan Dokter Satrio in
\nKuningan's \"Golden Triangle\" -- between Jl. Jenderal Sudirman and
\nJl. Rasuna Said in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The project is set to be completed in 10 years time at a
\ncurrent cost of Rp 10 trillion or about US$3.7 billion. Nine
\nprivate investors have so far committed themselves to participate
\nin the project.<\/p>\n
When completed, Jakarta's new showcase tourist and shopping
\nzone will have five grand shopping centers, 10 international-
\nstandard hotels, convention and exhibition centers, restaurants,
\napartments, office buildings, indoor and outdoor recreation
\ncenters, sidewalk cafes, art galleries and an assortment of
\ntourist and public facilities.<\/p>\n
One aspect of the new shopping district, which is missing from
\nexisting international hubs, is the promise of a pedestrian-
\nfriendly environment, including shelters and broad tree-shaded
\nsidewalks.<\/p>\n
The project, according to the head of the architecture team,
\nwill be a combination of several world-renowned avenues, such as
\nSingapore's Orchard Road, Shanghai's Bund and the Champs-Elysees
\nin Paris.<\/p>\n
Far from being a glamor project, which the city could not
\nreally afford, the new shopping belt, according to Governor
\nSurjadi, will help shape Jakarta into the country's nerve center
\nfor major services.<\/p>\n
With more than 1.5 million foreign tourists expected to visit
\nthe capital in the coming decade, developers and city authorities
\nsee the project as a prospective money earner capable of
\ncompeting with neighboring Singapore, which is said to be losing
\nits shopping sparkle.<\/p>\n
Critics, on the other hand, may say that even now the
\nburgeoning of modern shopping centers and malls in Jakarta,
\nduring the past decade or so, has gnawed at the livelihood of an
\never greater number of traditional market traders.<\/p>\n
To this argument, the developers and city administrators say
\nthat a provision has been made for small traders to be allocated
\nspace in the new tourist and shopping zone.<\/p>\n
This, of course, is welcome news. Aside from being humane,
\nsuch a provision can surely add to the project's attraction. The
\npresence of traditional market places and kakilima (roadside
\ntraders) have, after all, always been one of the city's
\nattractions for visitors.<\/p>\n
As for the city's modern shopping malls, their growing numbers
\nand flourishing trade seems to be an unmistakable sign that
\nJakartans have already come to see them as natural fixtures of
\nmodern city life.<\/p>\n
The indications seem to be that traditional and modern can
\nindeed go hand in hand. Given earlier fears, that the existence
\nof both would cause a growing social gap, this is fortunate
\nindeed.<\/p>\n
With increasing global links, Jakarta, as the country's center
\nof administration, trade and commerce, deserves to have all the
\namenities necessary to live up to its reputation.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-shopping-paradise-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}