JAKARTA FAIR EXPECTED TO LURE 5 MILLION VISITORS By Fardah

   Jakarta, June 3, 2015 (Antara) -- Longing for traditional cuisines and the culture of Jakarta, particularly the famous "kerak telor" (pancake) and "soto Betawi" (soup), or Ondel-ondel giant puppets? Then the Jakarta Fair is the right place for you.

         Once again, the Jakarta Fair is being held in the heart of the city at the Jakarta International Exhibition Center (JIExpo) in Kemayoran to celebrate the capital city's 488th anniversary that falls on June 22.

         For 38 days, from May 29 to July 5, the fair is offering various activities, such as exhibitions, trade promotions, concerts, dining, and amusement rides from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, from 3.30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

         Visitors can use free shuttle buses at bus stops in Kemayoran Station, Kemayoran low-cost rental apartments, the National Monument (Monas) and Mangga Dua WTC Mall.    

    An entry ticket to the Jakarta Fair 2015 costs Rp20,000 on Monday, Rp25,000 on Tuesday through Thursday, and Rp30,000 from Friday to Sunday.

         "The Jakarta Fair is unique because it promotes trade, business, and industrial products, and has a night market and various forms of entertainment, as well," Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla said when he officially kicked off the Jakarta Fair 2015 on May 29.    
    During the opening ceremony, Kalla was accompanied by his wife Mufidah, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, National Development Planning Minister/Chairman of the National Development Planning Board Andrinof Chaniago, Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel, and Governor of Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.

         General Commissioner of PT JIExpo Murdaya Po expects at least five million people to visit the annual festival, an increase from 4.5 million in 2012 and 4.8 million in 2013.

         "The Jakarta Fair is also expected to book business transactions worth more than Rp5 trillion this year," Murdaya Po stated.

         As the fair is coinciding with the Ramadhan fasting month, which is estimated to begin on June 18 and end on July 16, the organizing committee will provide free meals to break fasts (iftar) and organize night prayers during the Islamic holy month.

         Furthermore, the Jakarta Fair 2015 is considered the biggest and longest expo in Southeast Asia. 
    The fair's exhibition space covers 120 thousand square meters, hosts 1,500 booths, and showcases more than 500 live acts. Some 2,700 companies are participating in the event this year.

         Various Indonesian products, including cars, motorbikes, computers, handicrafts, furniture, garments, household items, and all kinds of manufactured goods, are being displayed. 
    In addition, numerous Indonesian gemstones, locally known as "batu akik," are also being offered in the fair to amuse "akik" lovers.    
    A craze for "batu akik" has been sweeping Indonesia of late, boosting the gemstone industry that is now highly lucrative.

         The expo also features pavilions from provincial governments, including the Jakarta autonomous province, corporations, and small- and medium-scale enterprises.

         To enliven the event and entertain visitors, various performances are being staged, such as musical shows, the Miss Jakarta Fair Beauty Pageant, carnivals, and several others.

         A number of famous singers and bands such as JKT 48, Sheila on 7, Agnes Monica, Slank, Afgan, Cita Citata, Ayu Ting Ting, Iwan Fals, and Godbless will be performing.

         In addition, PT JIExpo is conducting a door art contest, and lucky visitors can win prizes from among five cars and 38 motorbikes.    
    Moreover, some 900 police and military officers and one thousand civilian security personnel are guarding the fair, according to Marketing Director of PT JIExpo Ralh Scheunemann.

         The Jakarta Fair 2015 employed at least 50 thousand people for the two-month event.  
    "The domino effect of new employments is significant because it will reduce social vulnerability and increase industrial and trade productivity," Scheunemann affirmed.

     According to Governor of Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, this year, the capital city will not organize the "Jakarta Public Week," which was held along with the Jakarta Fair in previous years, but visitors did not have to buy tickets to enter the expo area at Monas.

     "The Jakarta Public Week will not be held at Monas anymore as before. Our objective was to let street vendors use the area," Purnama, who is also known as Ahok, explained.

       However, it turned out that several stands set up for street vendors were, in fact, occupied by individuals, including those from mass organizations, the governor added.

         In addition, he noted that the area around Monas would be left dirty after the event was held.

         Also, most of the street vendors participating in the bazaar were reluctant to leave even after the event was over, Ahok stated.

         "Therefore, we decided to not hold Jakarta Public Week anymore," he affirmed.

         The annual Jakarta Public Week was initiated in 2013 by President Joko Widodo, who was the governor of Jakarta then, also to celebrate the anniversary of the capital city.

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(T.F001/A/BESSR/Bustanuddin) 03-06-2015 22:33:20