Convention center makes more history<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Despite its modern veneer, the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) is
\nquickly becoming one of the most historic edifices in the
\ncountry. This week it will add to its already impressive roster
\nof events by hosting a summit of over five dozen Asian-African
\nleaders.<\/p>\n
In the early 1990s, JCC emerged as one of the premier
\nconvention arenas of Southeast Asia. Its location within the
\nSenayan Sports Complex makes it relatively secluded from the
\nbustling traffic of adjacent throughways. This also means that
\nsecurity is slightly easier to manage, as 'outsiders' cannot just
\nstroll through the building's entrance.<\/p>\n
Much of the building's interior today is a result of massive
\n10-month renovation costing US$100 million conducted ahead of the
\n1992 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit.<\/p>\n
A 950-meter-long underground passageway was built connecting
\nthe main convention center with the Hilton International Hotel
\nwhere dignitaries often stay. A photo display of leaders
\nattending the 1992 NAM Summit hanging in the corridor of the
\nunderground passageway is testament to the history of the
\ncomplex.<\/p>\n
Since 1992, this 64,000-square-meter building located in
\nCentral Jakarta has hosted numerous international conferences,
\nalong with a slew of expos and concerts.<\/p>\n
There have been at least two ministerial level meetings and a
\nsummit of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN), the NAM
\nSummit, the APEC meetings in 1994, and most recently the Tsunami
\nSummit.<\/p>\n
This week's meeting of Asian-African leaders is only rivaled
\nby the 1992 NAM Summit. Over 106 countries will send high level
\ndelegations. Add to this the media fanfare that will attract
\nseveral thousand journalists.<\/p>\n
This would be a daunting task for any committee assigned to
\norganize such a undertaking. But preparations thus far have been
\nsufficient.<\/p>\n
To facilitate thousands of local and foreign journalists,
\norganizers have designated a 6,000-square-meter area at the rear
\nof JCC as a media center.<\/p>\n
In an attempt to shield delegates from the press, the media
\ncenter is sequestered behind the Plenary Hall, where heads of
\nstate\/government from Asian and African countries will begin
\nmeeting on Friday.<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday, there are about 2,000 journalists, including
\n634 from the foreign media, who have registered to cover the
\nsummit.<\/p>\n
Event organizer Pacto Convex Ltd., said that the company had
\nprepared 25 desktop computers and an additional 25 internet lines
\nat the media center.<\/p>\n
\"We have also provided 30 booths for media. Most of the booths
\nare rented by the Japanese media,\" an official from Pacto told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The Antara news agency is thus far the only local media
\norganization to rent one of the 3x3 meter booths. Each booth
\ncosts US$950, with an additional $1,000 required for an Internet
\nconnection.<\/p>\n
Telecommunication company PT Telkom have also prepared
\nfacilities such as satellite services, a mini studio, Internet
\ncafe and phone booths.<\/p>\n
The organizing committee of the summit earlier said that some
\n20 booths had also been allocated at the plenary hall to
\nfacilitate bilateral meetings between leaders of Asian and
\nAfrican countries expected to take place on the sidelines of the
\nsummit.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/convention-center-makes-more-history-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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