Store owners invited to join Discount Fair
Store owners invited to join Discount Fair
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (Kadin) is calling on businesses to
participate in the Discount Fair, which starts on June 14 to
commemorate the city's anniversary and Independence Day.
Kadin president Pungky Bambang Purwadi said on Wednesday the
organizer would use the event to promote Jakarta as a tourist
shopping destination.
"We will be expecting both local and foreign tourists from
neighboring countries to come to the capital for the Discount
Fair," Pungky said, adding that cooperation had been set up with
the Inbound Tour Operators Club (ITOC) and Indonesian embassies
for promotional purposes abroad.
Jakarta will celebrate its 473th anniversary on June 22 and
the country will commemorate the 55th anniversary of independence
Aug. 17.
"Companies will offer up to 70 percent discount on their
merchandise during the event, so that Jakartans from all economic
levels can take part in the celebration," head of the organizing
committee, Yustian Ismail, said.
Yustian assured the public that discounts would be offered
from the original prices of merchandise, not from marked-up
prices.
"Law No. 8/1999 on customer protection will apply, so
sanctions will be imposed on any businessperson who marks up
prices," Yustian added.
Touching on the security condition in the city, Pungky
explained that he had urged Governor Sutiyoso to give assurances
that the city was safe so that everything would go as expected.
He voiced optimism that the event would demonstrate to
other countries that Indonesia's economic, social and security
conditions had improved.
"However, we will discuss it further with representatives of
the city administration, the Jakarta Police and the Jakarta
Military," Pungky said.
Sales at this year's event, which in previous years was called
the Shopping Festival, are expected to exceed sales at the 1997
event by 15 percent to 20 percent. Transactions in 1997 totaled
Rp 1.62 trillion (US$192.8 million), which was 8 percent higher
than 1999's Rp 1.5 trillion.
A representative from the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant
Association (PHRI), I Nyoman Pendit, said despite the economic
crisis which had affected the hotel and restaurant industry, the
association would offer discounts on their services. He noted,
however, that the association members would meet to discuss the
percentage of discounts to be offered.
The one-month event will also be participated in by companies
grouped under the Association of Indonesian Retailers (Arpindo),
the Makers of Garment and Accessories Association (APGAI), the
Jakarta Promotion Board (Jakprom), city-owned market operator PD
Pasar Jaya, the Indonesian Direct Selling Association (APLI),
and the Indonesian Shopping Centers Management Organization
(IPPB). (06)