GOVT HOLDS REGIONAL CREATIVE PRODUCT WEEK AT MONAS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 15 (Antara) - The Jakarta Government is organizing a three-day Regional Creative Products Week (PPKD)at National Monument (Monas) Square, the former venue for years of the Jakarta Fair (PRJ) which has moved to former Kemayoran airport.      The Monas creative product week, which is held amid the on-going a month-long Jakarta Fair in the former Kemayoran airport, is to provide arena for small businesses which are not accommodated at the PRJ.          Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo (Jokowi) considered that the Jakarta Fair had developed into a promotion arena for large scale businesses, thus marginalizing small and medium enterprises (SME).          Therefore, the Jakarta regional government is considering bringing back the annual PRJ to Monas, or creating another venue which is suitable for bringing back the spirit of the folk culture and business festivity.          The PRJ, which was held for the first time in 1968, was moved to the former Kemayoran airport site in 1992. That's why the implementation of Regional Creative Products Week in Monas square from Friday to Sunday was trail, according to Jakarta Governor Jokowi.          "We will hold the regional creative products week at Monas Square as a potential site for the new Jakarta Fair that includes small and medium enterprises," the Jakarta governor said on Thursday.          The Jakarta Regional Creative Products Week (PPKD), which was opened by Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahja Purnama on Friday aims to promote handicraft products from various areas in the capital city.

JAKARTA FAIR WANTS TO COME BACK AS FOLK PROMOTION ARENA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 14 (Antara) - The 46th Jakarta Fair which was opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the former Kemayoran airport location on Monday, has rapidly developed with large scale firms taking part in the annual business and cultural exposition.          Formally called Djakarta Fair (DF) and held for the first time in the 7 hectare National Monument Square (Monas) on June 5, 1968, the Jakarta Fair (PRJ) was later moved to the 44 hectare former Kemayoran airport in 1992 to facilitate its rapid development.         However, in its rapid development, the Jakarta Fair has become the arena of large companies to exhibit their products while small and medium enterprises (SME) began to be marginalized.          Therefore the regional government is considering returning the function of the PRJ as a place for the SMEs to exhibit their products.  The regional government wants that about 60-70 percent of space at the PRJ should be allocated for SMEs.     "We support the regional government's effort to encourage the SMEs to use 60-70 percent of the PRJ arena," Erwin Aksa, the deputy chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) said on Thursday.          He made the statement in response to the desire of the regional government of Jakarta that the PRJ should allocate 60-70 percent of its arena for small and medium-sized business.