Jakarta to hold Great Sales in anniversary celebration

JAKARTA (JP): The city plans to hold the "Jakarta Great Sales '97" as part of 500 events in celebration of the capital's 470th anniversary on June 22.

The events' organizing committee chairman, Idroes, said the sales were expected to attract both local and foreign customers.

"We have sent letters to the management of malls and shopping centers in the city, requesting they participate in the event by offering attractive discounts," Idroes, who is deputy governor of administrative affairs, said yesterday.

He said details would follow.

Idroes acknowledged that most of the city's shopping centers recently had sales. "But this time, it's different. It's for the city's and the country's anniversary," Idroes said.

The sales will be organized by the city branch of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the city's economic bureau.

The event, expected to involve all shopping centers, is scheduled to be opened on July 14 by Governor Surjadi Soedirdja. It will be closed by Idroes.

Celebrations of Jakarta's anniversary started with the opening of the West Jakarta mayoralty office on April 17, while most events will be held in August. All events are scheduled to end in October soon after the 19th SEA Games on Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.

The annual Jakarta Fair is also scheduled from June 14 to July 13 at the Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

A Betawi festival, called Pesta Jalan Jaksa '97 -- or the Jl. Jaksa Fair, will be held in August in the tourist area in Central Jakarta. In this event, native Jakarta arts and culture, including dancing, music, and storytelling, will be among the events.

Idroes said the public should participate and beautify their neighborhoods.

"District or subdistrict office heads are not allowed to collect fees or force people to pay certain amounts of money to show their participation. Donations should be voluntary," Idroes said.

Idroes said the municipality expected all building managements and owners, especially those located on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. M.H. Thamrin, to decorate their buildings with lights.

"Participants whose buildings are beautifully decorated will get trophies from the governor," Idroes said.

The head of the city illumination agency, Niazie Gani, said the city would try to get discounts from the state-owned electricity company, PT PLN, for owners of buildings decorated with lights.

"In the celebration of the country's 50th anniversary (in 1995) we got a 30 percent discount from PLN," Niazie said. (ste)