30,000 lanterns for Jakarta Fair

JAKARTA (JP): A myriad of Chinese lanterns are to be among the attractions at the June 14 to July 13 Jakarta Fair in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Of the 30,000 lanterns, 22 will be designed as dinosaurs, the National Monument and the Al Azhar Mosque.

The Indonesia-China Friendship group will organize the lanterns. The lantern makers are from the Republic of China, one of 12 foreign countries which have confirmed participation in the fair.

The group's coordinator, Iwan, said: "We have requested the group bringing the lanterns transfer their technology to artists here."

Musician Franky Raden, the fair's cultural coordinator, said Brazilian artists would perform the samba from July 9 to July 13.

The fair will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, for which the Jakarta International Trade Corp has invested Rp 11 billion (US$4.9 million). Last year more than 2.2 million people attended the fair. This year, the target is 2.5 million visitors.

Improved transportation services have also been planned. (anr)