Fair expected to rake in Rp 250b
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.