Sat, 05 Nov 1994

Jakarta streets blossom for APEC

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta will greet delegates of the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting with flowers, banners and decorative lights.

Chief of the City Parks Office Syamsir Alamsyah told reporters after a meeting at City Hall yesterday that his office has stepped up preparations for the meeting in cooperation with the private sector.

"The total municipal budget earmarked for decorations amounts to Rp 600 million (around US$280,000)," he said.

More funds come from donations from private companies, he said, but declined to release the names of the contributors or the amount of the contributions.

The city administration's contribution to the financing of the preparations is higher than that of the private sector was all he would say.

The parks office is currently taking care of the flowers and ornamental plants set out along the major roads through which the APEC delegates will pass, he said.

"We are also going to put between 1,500 and 2,000 banners and flower arrangements along major roads, including Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman, as well as neon lights welcoming the delegates at the Semanggi bridge and around statues and fountains," he said.

He said the banners will display the names of the companies which made donations, as one of the office's efforts to invite greater participation of the private sector in welcoming APEC delegates.

In a related event, Bogor Regent Eddie Yosso Martadipura on Thursday ordered that town's administration to keep a close watch on anything that would impair its beauty during the APEC meetings.

Efforts to beautify the town have been increased with the planting of more flowers and the repainting of traffic flow lines and crosswalks on the streets. Civil servants have been deployed to help with the maintenance of Bogor's streets and pavements. (22)