A Joint and Solid Vision of Jakarta

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

Carnival on the eve of the Jakarta Fair Kemayoran celebration or the 53rd Jakarta Fair and the 495th anniversary of the City of Jakarta at the Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (21/6/2022).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — On Wednesday (22/6/2022), Jakarta celebrates its 495th anniversary. On the eve of its birthday, a carnival was held at the annual Jakarta Fair, the 53rd edition of the event, at Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran in Central Jakarta.

In his remarks at Jakarta Fair on Tuesday evening, Deputy Jakarta Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said he hoped residents of Jakarta would remain solid and united to revive the capital’s economy; they were encouraged to move forward and improve according to the vision of Jakarta.

"Help transform Jakarta into a more developed, sustainable and cultured city whose citizens are involved in realizing civility, justice and prosperity for all," said Riza, who was there to represent Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.

After the carnival, the celebration continued with a fireworks display.

The fair, which featured a broad range of exhibitors, played host to visitors who cheered or took selfies as they watched the parade around the various booths. The evening’s celebration was filled with drum bands, fashion shows, dances and vehicles.

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Meanwhile, the main stage or music concert arena was packed with visitors or invited guests, such as representatives of neighboring countries and state institutions.

The commemoration of Jakarta’s 495th anniversary this year was filled with a series of events from 24 May to 5 June under the theme Jakarta Celebration – a celebration of all its achievements and collaborations, and a party that invites all residents to be active and build the city together.

Riza said the celebration was held in the spirit of collaboration, acceleration and elevation. This spirit carries a message of optimism and evidence of the efforts that have been, are being and will be made toward developing Jakarta as a global city.

"Collaboration is not just a space, but it invites Jakarta residents to be involved as creators or joint development initiatives," said Riza.

He also invited all Jakartans to enliven and the annual Jakarta Fair, including by buying local products, a sign of love and pride. Don't forget to also enjoy a variety of culinary delights, activities and big discounts, he added.

"Happy birthday Jakarta! And here’s to the 53rd Jakarta Fair exhibition. Remember to maintain health protocols. Prove that we love Jakarta and Indonesia," he said.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

The enthusiasm of visitors to watch the carnival on the eve of the celebration of the 53rd Jakarta Fair or Jakarta Fair and the 495th anniversary of the City of Jakarta at the Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (21/6/2022).

The Jakarta administration also expressed its appreciation for PT Jakarta International Expo, which organized and is holding the Jakarta Fair after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The largest, most comprehensive and longest-running exhibition in Southeast Asia is now playing a big part in the economic recovery movement.

PT Jakarta International Expo director Karuna Murdaya said the exhibition was able to be held this year because of the spirit of collaboration, acceleration and elevation, and it’s all thanks to the support of the Jakarta administrations, participants, sponsors, officials and visitors.

"They all continue to work hard to promote Jakarta as an effective exhibition venue," he said.

Performances by Gangsta Rasta and Souljah closed the Jakarta Fair and the capital’s birthday celebrations that evening. The audience swayed and danced to the flow of the melody while cheering with joy.

Joint celebration

The Jakarta Fair is the largest multi-product exhibition in the country, even Southeast Asia. This year it was opened on 9 June by Anies. The event does not only belong to the residents of the capital city and its surrounding areas. Visitors from across the country also enlivened the event.

Listalia Suhartini, 60, for example, brought her small business all the way from Yogyakarta to be part of the Jakarta Fair. Her brand Jaya Pitoe represented the Yogyakarta provincial pavilion for 10 days.

Jaya Pitoe offers ecoprint clothing products. The clothes, bags, hats and shoes on display are made using coloring techniques and form motifs using natural materials such as leaves, flowers and plant branches.

The exhibition is not just between visitors and between booths, but each booth learns from each other, supports each other, works together to rise stronger in the future

Anies hopes that this year’s event can match the revenue and visitor achievements of the 2019 edition and help small businesses expand their network. In 2019, the Jakarta Fair recorded a total transaction value of Rp 7.5 trillion (US$504.44 million) and 6.8 million visitors.

At the same time, Anies appealed to business actors and visitors to comply with health protocols during the exhibition and to take advantage of the various opportunities available, such as the process of exchanging experiences and networking. He also invited parents to bring their children or families to the Jakarta Fair to have a memorable experience.

"The exhibition is not just between visitors and between booths, but each booth learns from each other, supports each other, works together to rise stronger in the future," Anies said at the time.

Happy 495th anniversary to Jakarta!

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.