Habibie opens Fair, summons visitors<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie officially opened on
\nSunday the 32nd Jakarta Fair at the Jakarta Fairground in Central
\nJakarta, emphasizing that the event was important in attracting
\nsupport for the country's economic recovery.<\/p>\n
Habibie said the annual business event was also important in
\npromoting tourism, creating job opportunities and providing
\nJakartans with an attractive entertainment site.<\/p>\n
\"I call on people living in Jakarta and the surrounding areas
\nto visit the fair. Let's love local products,\" he said before
\npressing a siren button marking the opening of the 17-day
\nexhibition.<\/p>\n
First Lady Hasri Ainun Habibie cut a garland of jasmine
\nflowers at the entrance gate.<\/p>\n
Foreign envoys and several high-ranking officials, including
\nMinister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan, Minister of
\nCommunications Giri Suseno Hadihardjono, Jakarta Governor
\nSutiyoso attended the fair's opening ceremony.<\/p>\n
The guests were entertained by the Light and Pop Orchestra
\nband, which played several songs, including a Habibie favorite:
\nSepasang Mata Bola (A Pair of Eyes).<\/p>\n
The reading of a poem titled Peace to My Country by junior
\nhigh school student Wisnu surprised guests with its sharply
\nsatirical edge.<\/p>\n
The poem described the bloody incidents in Aceh and Ambon as
\n\"television serials\" and \"soap operas\".<\/p>\n
The poem also referred to the increasing number of new
\n\"actors\" in Jakarta, whose performances were almost equal to
\nthose of Broadway performers.<\/p>\n
Hot satire was not an entertainment form at events presided
\nover by former president Soeharto during his 32-year tenure.<\/p>\n
In his speech, Habibie said an economic recovery in the
\ncountry could not be achieved by the government alone, but
\nrequired the help of the public with the support of a favorable
\nexternal situation.<\/p>\n
\"It's not correct that the economy can recover just because of
\ncertain people or groups,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The President emphasized the importance of a sense of security
\namong the public to support the economic recovery, especially to
\nrevitalize Jakarta's business community.<\/p>\n
The annual fair, which will close on Aug. 22, also
\ncommemorates the city's 472nd anniversary and the 54th
\nanniversary of the country's Independence Day.<\/p>\n
The president of the Jakarta International Trade Fair
\nCorporation, Gito Bantas, said 454 local companies and 400
\ninformal traders had joined the fair, almost twice the number of
\nlast year's participants.<\/p>\n
However, like last year, no foreign firms are participating in
\nthe event.<\/p>\n
This year's fair, organized at a cost of Rp 2.3 billion, is
\nexpecting one million visitors with projected transactions of Rp
\n30 billion.<\/p>\n
More than Rp 10 billion was generated in transactions at last
\nyear's fair. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/habibie-opens-fair-summons-visitors-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}