Jakarta Fair breaks visitors, sales records

JAKARTA (JP): The month-long Jakarta Fair closed last night having broken records for the number of visitors and total sales.

Total sales reached Rp 181 billion (US$73.87 million) and more than 2.52 million people went to the fair.

The fair was closed by Jakarta International Trade Fair Corp. director Soekardjo Hardjosoewirjo, but an official closing ceremony will be held today. Coordinating Minister of Production and Distribution Hartarto will attend the ceremony.

Soekardjo said that the total sales figure of Rp 181 billion exceeded the target of Rp 122.5 billion and was a big jump over last year's Rp 35 billion.

"There was a high transaction level mainly because of Indonesia's improved economy. Moreover, the products offered at the fair were good quality," he said.

He said another reason sales increased so sharply was because property businesses took part in the fair for the first time this year.

He said that Rp 98 billion of the total sales were concluded by property businesses alone, followed by motor vehicle sales at Rp 42 billion and electronics at Rp 5 billion.

"Besides the concluded sales the committee also registered another Rp 24 billion as being still under negotiation," he said.

Soekardjo said about 2,600 exhibitors participated in the fair, including 1,234 big domestic and foreign companies.

He said last year only 2.2 million people went to the fair.

The city put on 520 extra busses, plying 29 routes, to help people get to the fair.

Cultural and music performances were arranged in a bid to attract visitors. One such performance was a demonstration of Brazilians dancing the sensual Samba.

This was the 30th fair held in conjunction with Jakarta's 470th birthday. (jun/hhr)

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