Try Sutrisno to open Jakarta Fair tomorrow

JAKARTA (JP): The 30th annual Jakarta Fair, which is located at the Jakarta Fairground in Central Jakarta, will be opened tomorrow by Vice President Try Sutrisno, accompanied by Governor Surjadi Soedirdja.

Hundreds of teenagers will energetically perform the Acehnese religious dance, Sujud Syukur, for the opening ceremony of the month-long event tomorrow.

Surjadi visited the fairground yesterday to view a dress rehearsal of the teenagers' performance and the latest development of other preparations.

Surjadi said the fair would depict economic development progress in Indonesia through local participating companies offering latest high-quality products.

The fairground was busy yesterday with people preparing their own showrooms and stalls. A children's choir was practicing Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and some traditional songs, while a school marching band was also practicing. Adults were busy arranging and decorating the atriums.

Fair exhibitors will include 600 large companies, including those from other countries. The organizer expects around 2.5 million visitors at the fair.

"This is the fifth fair during my five-year term and I can testify to its progress," Surjadi said. "We hope Jakartans will fully participate in the celebration because it is in conjunction with the commemoration of the city's 470th anniversary," he said.

He said the fair, which helped raise municipality income, constituted one of the best ways to promote national and international products. The event also motivated private companies, including small businesses, to boost the economic growth of the city, he said.

The governor urged the fair committee to tighten security to avoid any unexpected incidents.

The City Land Transportation Agency will also provide 488 public transport vehicles, allowed on 29 routes leading to the fairgrounds, to help visitors get there. (10)