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)