The opening of the Jakarta Fair was held at the main stage of Jakarta Fair at the Jakarta Fair Ground in Kemyoran, Central Jakarta.
President Yudhoyono, who arrived at 7.30 pm, delivered his opening speech after Joko Widodo (Jokowi) made his address.
"PRJ 2013, which will last from June 6 to July 7 2013, is held as part of the commemoration of Jakarta`s 486th anniversary," the governor said.
Jokowi hoped that PRJ 2013 would serve as A useful arena which provides information and entertainment for the people.
"I hope this event will provide information for the people as an entertainment arena and as a place for introducing the nation`s creative products," the governor said.
In the meantime, President Yudhoyono expressed his hope that PRJ would continue to develop and provide economic benefit to the people and serve as an entertainment place for them.
"I congratulate the holding of the Jakarta Fair and I wish a happy 486th anniversary of the Jakarta City. I hope the 46th PRJ would benefit and entertain the people," the President said.
The President pressed the button of the siren marking the official opening of Jakarta Fair 2013, followed by Jokowi, Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa and the PRJ 2013 General Chairman of the organizing committee Murdaya W Poo.
"By praising God Almighty, I hereby officially open the 46th PRJ," the president said while pressing the button.
PT Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) has earlier said it is targeting itself of concluding a transaction of Rp4.5 trillion in Jakarta Fair 2013.
"Last year, we set a transaction target at Rp4 trillion and it was achieved. This year we have set a higher target at Rp4.5 trillion. Hopefully, it will be achieved," Prajna Mudaya, a PRJ committee chairman, said in the Jakarta Fair Ground in Kemayoran on Thursday.
Prajna is optimistic that PRJ 2013 will achieve its target. After all, the number of tenants of participants this year is bigger.
"There were 2,550 tenants taking part in PRJ 2012. This year the number of tenants relatively increases to 2,650 participants," said Prajna.
He explained that for the PRJ 2013 festivals, a total of 1,280 stands had been built for businesses, consisting of large scale businesses and industries, cooperatives, small-scale and micro enterprises.
Besides transaction values, said Prajna, the committee also expected bigger number of visitors this year than those in 2012.
"A total of 4.5 million visitors were registered to have come to PRJ 2012. We hope this year the Jakarta Fair will be visited by some 4.8 million people," Prajna said.
PRJ 2013 will be taking place for 32 days beginning from June 6 to July 7, 2013. The fair will be open every day from 3.30 p.m to 10 p.m (Monday-Thursday), from 3.30 p.m to 11 p.m (Friday) and from 10 a.m to 11 p.m (Saturday and Sunday).
Admission tickets will be sold at a price of Rp25,000 for the days from Monday to Thursday and Rp30,000 from Friday to Sunday. (A014)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
