VP Megawati inaugurates Jakarta Fair
JAKARTA (JP): Despite current political tension and very few foreign participants, the 34th Jakarta Fair at Kemayoran, Central Jakarta was inaugurated on Friday by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Some 1,200 participants -- local and foreign companies and agencies -- are taking part in the month-long event that includes not only trade exhibitions but also cultural exhibitions and performances.
The number is less than last year's total of some 1,507 that included 60 foreign companies.
This year, only Iran, Malaysia, Brunei and South Korea are participating in the fair. Taiwan decided not to join this year's fair, saying that the political situation was not conducive.
Megawati, however, praised Indonesian businesses for their perseverance.
"I appreciate that holding such a big event in this tough situation is not that simple. We should take an example from their (business society) perseverance," she said in her opening speech, before officially opened the fair.
A series of contemporary traditional dances were performed and a marching band with flags was drawn from members of the Kinarya GSP company, owned by Guruh Soekarnoputra, a noted choreographer who is also Megawati's younger brother.
The performance was titled Damai..Damai..Oh Damai (Peace... Peace...Oh Peace) and symbolized the recent situation in this country, characterized by ethnic clashes and disintegration.
The show was closed with all of the dancers and musicians joining together and singing Damai, a song performed with red and white costumes that symbolized the national flag.
The fair is part of the celebrations to mark the city's 474th anniversary that falls on June 22.
It is located in the huge Jakarta International Trade Fair (JITF) complex in Kemayoran. The complex stands on a 44-hectare plot, 20 hectares of which house exhibition sites, while the remaining space is used as a parking lot that can accommodate up to 6,500 vehicles.
JITF, as the fair's organizer, has also allowed some 300 informal and street vendors to trade at the fair.
The event used to be held in Monas (National Monument) park in Central Jakarta, but was later moved to Kemayoran. Even though the new place was more extensive, many complained that it was too far from the center of the city and there was less public transportation providing access to the area.
The committee is expecting some 1.7 million visitors, exceeding last year's total of 1.4 million people.
There will be a total of 128 concerts held, with 155 artists participating, such as Yovie & Nuno, Iis Dahlia, GIGI, Slank, Cici Faramida, Jamrud, Wayang, Pas Band and Naif.(hdn)