Next year's Jakarta Fair promises a new look

Next year's Jakarta Fair promises a new look

JAKARTA (JP): Next year's Jakarta Fair will undergo a major
facelift with many new facilities, an organizer said yesterday.

Rudi Hendra, the deputy general manager of PT Jakarta
International Trade Corporation (JITC), said the facelift would
include a new boulevard and a wider car park.

"We will also provide more attractions and better
transportation and security facilities for visitors. In short,
next year's fair will be better managed in various respects,
providing more comfort and entertainment for both the
participants and visitors alike," he said.

Rudy said JITC had allocated Rp 7 billion for the fair, Rp 2
billion of which was for new facilities.

"All this is being done by JITC to make the annual fair more
attractive and glamorous. It is also part of the organizers'
activities to celebrate the fair's 30th anniversary," he said.

He said the main reason for the facelift was to attract more
"quality" visitors, especially from overseas.

Rudy said he was optimistic the investment could be returned
from the sales of stalls, admission tickets, parking tickets and
the sponsor's money.

"We have set the target of reaping Rp 2 billion in financial
profit. With the assumption that next year's fair can attract two
million visitors like last year we have every reason to believe
this target can be achieved."

He said the city administration and the city's public works
office had promised to help JITC manage the fair more
professionally.

"They will help finance the construction of a through road
from Jl. Benyamin Sueb toward Jl. Martadinata which will help
ease traffic jams on the streets leading to the fair ground in
Kemayoran, "Rudi said.

He said 11 more entrance gates would be added to the current
six. "Three for vehicles and 14 for visitors. The new parking lot
can accommodate at least 5,000 cars."

A 200-meter-long and 15-meter-wide boulevard and a water
fountain will be built at the fair ground.

"A street festival featuring various attractions, including
musical and cultural shows performed by local and foreign artists
will be held along the boulevard," Rudi said. An internationally
reputed acrobatic troupe from China and a musical and dancing
carnival from Brazil will be two of the festival's drawcards.

Four huge halls, called A, B, C and D halls, will house the
fair's participants.

Hall A, which covers 8,000 square meters, will house high-tech
product stands.

Hall B, covering 4,000 square meters, will serve as "the hall
of nations" where foreign companies from Italy, China, Japan,
Taiwan, Myanmar and Vietnam, among others, will display their
products.

"Hall C will house pavilions from all 27 provinces across the
country, while hall D will house stalls displaying various
domestic products and services," Rudi said.

To make access to the fair easier JITC will provide 500 big
buses plying 20 routes to the fair ground.

To guarantee public order and security organizers would deploy
1000 security personnel, including Armed Forces members and the
city's civil security department, Rudi said.

Admission is Rp 2,000 per person. For a group of 25 or more
admission is Rp 1,500 per person. (bas)