Jakarta Fair tries to spice up image

The annual Jakarta Fair this year looks set to become involved in politics.

During a press conference on Thursday, the organizing committee said that the fair would adopt the nationalist theme, Indonesiaku Bersatu (My United Indonesia).

"The fair will also encourage people to leave behind their grief and sorrow in the wake of the tsunami and earthquake tragedies," said chairperson Siti Hartati Murdaya.

Prior to the fair, which will be held from June 16 to July 17 at the Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, local businesspeople have been lining up to register for the event (see photo).

The fair will form part of the celebration of Jakarta's official 478th anniversary, which falls on June 22.

The committee is targeting a 25 percent increase in the value of the transactions generated during the one-month fair this year, or Rp 97.2 billion, compared to last year's total transaction value of Rp 389 billion.

Between 2.3 million and 2.5 million visitors are expected to visit the fair, which will be open to the public from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. every weekday and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Entrance tickets will cost Rp 10,000 on weekdays and Rp 15,000 on weekends or public holidays.

The fair will also feature special areas recreating a Kampoeng Betawi (Native Jakartan kampong), China Town, Jakarta during the Dutch East Indies days and the possible shape of the city in the future. --JP