Jakarta streets blossom for APEC

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)