Habibie opens Jakarta Fair in very modest way<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie opened yesterday the 31st
\nJakarta Fair at the Jakarta Fairgrounds in Kemayoran, Central
\nJakarta, in a very modest way.<\/p>\n
Unlike previous cheerful fair opening ceremonies, which have
\nalways been marked by numerous long speeches with a robust
\nprojection of the country's economic growth, the President did
\nnot make any speech at all.<\/p>\n
Habibie just sounded the siren to notify the commencement of
\nthe annual fair and exhibition. Indonesia My Beloved Country sung
\nby noted singer Harvey Malaiholo came next followed by two dance
\nperformances -- one contemporary and the other Betawi (native
\nJakartan).<\/p>\n
Gito Bantas, president of PT Jakarta International Trade Fair
\nCorp., said at the ceremony that only 235 local companies were
\nparticipating in the fair, an 80 percent drop from last year. No
\nforeign firms are taking part.<\/p>\n
The sharp drop in the number of participants is mainly due to
\nthe poor economic condition amid the current crisis in the
\ncountry, Gito said.<\/p>\n
As of December last year, at least 600 companies had
\nregistered to participate in the fair and had paid deposits on
\nexhibition stands. Another 1,000 firms expressed their intention
\nto take part, he said. The number of participants, however,
\nsharply dropped in May, especially after massive riots which
\ncaused the country's economy to practically grind to a halt.<\/p>\n
Rudi Hendra, the marketing general manager, said yesterday
\nthat despite the limited number of participants, the fair, which
\nis in commemoration of Jakarta's 471st anniversary which fell on
\nJune 22, was needed to show the world that business activities in
\nJakarta still exist.<\/p>\n
\"Almost none of the participants are pinning their hopes on
\nsales and profit in this fair, which is scheduled to end on Aug.
\n2,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
In his speech, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso expressed hope that
\nthe fair could help win back domestic and international
\nconfidence in the economy.<\/p>\n
\"We want to show to the domestic and international community
\nthat businesspeople can run their businesses again in the city as
\nthe security here is increasingly under control,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Habibie, accompanied by his wife Hasri Ainun Besari, spent
\nabout an hour visiting the stands at the fair. He later stopped
\nat a stand owned by 48-year-old Lem Anyak, an artisan from
\nSamarinda, East Kalimantan, and bought three ornamental
\nnecklaces.<\/p>\n
\"The three necklaces actually cost Rp 245,000, but the
\nPresident gave me Rp 250,000,\" she told reporters.<\/p>\n
Habibie and his wife also posed for a photograph with members
\nof a choir before leaving the fair.<\/p>\n
One of the stands also provides cheap basic food commodities.<\/p>\n
Also present at yesterday's opening ceremony were the
\nministers of the Development and Reform Cabinet, representatives
\nfrom foreign embassies, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo
\nHadisiswoyo and business tycoon Sudwikatmono. (ivy\/hhr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/habibie-opens-jakarta-fair-in-very-modest-way-1447893297",
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