Susilo opens Jakarta Fair

Susilo opens Jakarta Fair

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened on Thursday the Jakarta
Fair, which is part of the celebrations of the city's 478th
anniversary on June 22.

In his opening speech, Susilo called on the people to take
part in the country's drive to "love and use local products" as
a measure to generate economic growth.

"By loving and buying local products we would revive ailing
local industries and in turn improve the country's economy,"
Susilo emphasized.

Susilo had earlier asked his ministers to visit the fair and
purchase local products.

The month-long event will be held from June 16 to July 17 at
the Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Fair organizers said on Tuesday that they hoped to attract 2.5
million visitors this year and secure Rp 389 billion in
transactions.

Total transaction value in last year's event was Rp 300
billion, while total visitor numbers stood at 2.3 million.

Organizer said the fair involved at least 380 companies, some
of them foreign companies.

The fair will be open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and
from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends with ticket prices Rp 10,000
on weekdays and Rp 15,000 on weekends or public holidays.

The fair will also feature areas specially designed and
decorated to depict Kampoeng Betawi (village of native
Jakartans), China Town, Jakarta during Dutch occupation and
Jakarta in the future. --The Jakarta Post