Jakarta Fair nears participant target
Jakarta Fair nears participant target
JAKARTA (JP): At least 400 domestic companies, 10 regional
government trade representatives and one foreign company have
booked stands for the 1999 Jakarta Fair in August, but only a few
down payments had been made, organizers said on Friday.
The annual fair, which will be held from Aug. 6 through Aug.
22 in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, is a joint project of the
Jakarta International Tradefair Corporation (JITC), PT Debindo
and the Jakarta Fair Foundation.
The organizers have targeted 500 companies to participate in
the country's yearly trade exhibition and some one million people
to visit the fair.
Trade transactions expected to be clinched during the 17-day
event are set at Rp 35 billion (US$5.2 million).
Domestic companies taking part in the fair include Panasonic,
Phillips, Astra, Indomobil and some furniture producers. The sole
foreign participant is from Iran.
Three exhibition halls and a large open space on the Kemayoran
fair ground will be taken over by participants.
A large plot will also be allocated for street vendors, in
order to reduce any disturbances to visitors, the organizer said.
The fair, first launched in 1968, provides a once-a-year
opportunity for Jakartans to supplement their incomes. Jobs
include work as stand guides or operation of temporary
restaurants and food stalls
The decision to hold this year's fair was made only on April
14, after months of uncertainty whether the fair would be held at
all due to the economic crisis. According to the organizer, the
1999 event would be a trial run to regain public confidence in
Indonesian businesses.
Despite the registration of 600 firms for the fair last year,
only 200 companies took part, causing substantial financial
losses to JITC.
According to a local government regulation issued in 1991, the
privately run JITC is the only organization with the right to
hold the Jakarta Fair.
But this year, the fair will be held jointly by JITC, PT
Debindo and the state-run Jakarta Fair Foundation.
Sources said JITC earlier refused sole responsibility for the
fair, because of the losses sustained last year.(04)