Fair expected to rake in Rp 250b

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri inaugurated on Thursday evening the month-long Jakarta Fair 2004 at the Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

In her speech, the president asked that Governor Sutiyoso transform the fair into "a modern trade and industry exhibition with international networking".

The opening was also attended by Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas, several foreign envoys and Minister of Trade and Industry Rini M.S. Suwandi.

The organizers predicted that the 477th anniversary event would attract 2.2 million visitors, or about 70,000 people daily, and generate transactions of up to Rp 250 billion (US$26.6 million).

The prediction is well above figures for last year's fair, which drew only 1.7 million visitors and generated about Rp 208 billion.

As with previous years, an array of products ranging from electronics, furniture, cosmetics, computer hardware and food stalls will entice visitors, but with two new attractions: The Pavilion and Negeri Dongeng (Fairyland).

The Pavilion is modeled after the Suzhou Pavilion and is decorated with Chinese lanterns, and visitors can get a glimpse of what ancient Chinese homes looked like, while the Pavilion will also host various cultural attractions.

Negeri Dongeng, for children, will be a place of educational fun with competitions, creative workshops and art exhibitions.

About 800 exhibitors will set up their stands, with private companies in Halls A and B, and state institutions in Hall C.

The Jakarta Fair will feature 250 retail vendors, mostly food vendors, close to the exhibition grounds.

For entertainment, 100 bands and vocalists will light up the fair with music from Wednesdays to Sundays, among them popular group Dewa, rock band Slank, legendary rock band God Bless, Element, Naif, /rif, Coklat, The Fly, Stinky, Base Jam, Jikustik, Tofu and Netral.

Popular dangdut artists including Kristina, Lilis Karlina, Iis Dahlia, Ikke Nurjanah, Anisa Bahar and Uut Permatasari will also lure visitors into group dance marathons on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Two giant 250,000-watt screens and an 80,000-watt audio system will lend technological support to the performances.