Habibie opens Fair, summons visitors

Habibie opens Fair, summons visitors

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie officially opened on
Sunday the 32nd Jakarta Fair at the Jakarta Fairground in Central
Jakarta, emphasizing that the event was important in attracting
support for the country's economic recovery.

Habibie said the annual business event was also important in
promoting tourism, creating job opportunities and providing
Jakartans with an attractive entertainment site.

"I call on people living in Jakarta and the surrounding areas
to visit the fair. Let's love local products," he said before
pressing a siren button marking the opening of the 17-day
exhibition.

First Lady Hasri Ainun Habibie cut a garland of jasmine
flowers at the entrance gate.

Foreign envoys and several high-ranking officials, including
Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan, Minister of
Communications Giri Suseno Hadihardjono, Jakarta Governor
Sutiyoso attended the fair's opening ceremony.

The guests were entertained by the Light and Pop Orchestra
band, which played several songs, including a Habibie favorite:
Sepasang Mata Bola (A Pair of Eyes).

The reading of a poem titled Peace to My Country by junior
high school student Wisnu surprised guests with its sharply
satirical edge.

The poem described the bloody incidents in Aceh and Ambon as
"television serials" and "soap operas".

The poem also referred to the increasing number of new
"actors" in Jakarta, whose performances were almost equal to
those of Broadway performers.

Hot satire was not an entertainment form at events presided
over by former president Soeharto during his 32-year tenure.

In his speech, Habibie said an economic recovery in the
country could not be achieved by the government alone, but
required the help of the public with the support of a favorable
external situation.

"It's not correct that the economy can recover just because of
certain people or groups," he said.

The President emphasized the importance of a sense of security
among the public to support the economic recovery, especially to
revitalize Jakarta's business community.

The annual fair, which will close on Aug. 22, also
commemorates the city's 472nd anniversary and the 54th
anniversary of the country's Independence Day.

The president of the Jakarta International Trade Fair
Corporation, Gito Bantas, said 454 local companies and 400
informal traders had joined the fair, almost twice the number of
last year's participants.

However, like last year, no foreign firms are participating in
the event.

This year's fair, organized at a cost of Rp 2.3 billion, is
expecting one million visitors with projected transactions of Rp
30 billion.

More than Rp 10 billion was generated in transactions at last
year's fair. (jun)