T

he largest and longest fair in Southeast Asia has begun: the 50th edition of the Jakarta Fair at the Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran in Central Jakarta

For decades, the fair was a must-visit event for residents of the Greater Jakarta area and other cities. Until recently, other events overshadowed the popularity of the fair, which has always been part of the city’s anniversary celebration — Jakarta will celebrate its 490th birthday on June 22.

This year, the fair will run until July 16 and under heightened security, particularly following the twin suicide bombings in East Jakarta on May 25. Two thousand security guards will be watching over the event, along with the police and the Indonesia Military (TNI).

The security challenge for the fair, which is expected to draw almost 6 million visitors, is enormous. Yet, if the event goes off without a hitch, it might significantly restore confidence among Jakartans against threats to their security.

For many years, the fair served as an indicator of people’s purchasing power, thanks to growing transactions. This year’s target of exceeding Rp 6.5 trillion (US$488.4 million) in transactions will hopefully do its part to boost the economy.

We also share the high hopes of the fair’s theme in creating more jobs. Not only 40,000 freelance workers are to be employed during the 39-day event, the extravaganza should also open a big window of opportunity for the 2,700 participating companies across 1,500 stands, to promote their products to huge crowds. Forty percent of the stands are allocated to small and medium-scale businesses, while the remaining are reserved for state-owned, multinational and large-scale companies.

Older generations may recall the first “unofficial fair” initiated by then-governor Ali Sadikin in 1967 at the National Monument (Monas) Square. It aimed to entertain the people by bringing together night markets across Jakarta. The fair was said to be a recollection of the Gambir Night Market, which was held in the same venue when it was still called Koningsplein during Dutch rule. The first night market on Aug. 31, 1898, celebrated the coronation of Dutch Queen Wilhelmina. The annual night market ended in 1942 following the beginning of Japanese rule.  

Fast forward to 1968, the maiden Djakarta Fair was marked with the release of doves by president Soeharto on June 5, attracting 1.4 million visitors. A year later, the 1969 Djakarta Fair became the longest ever, running for 71 days — to which former United States president Richard Nixon was reportedly a visitor.

In 1992, the fair moved from Monas to Kemayoran — which occupies 44 hectares of space — to accommodate bigger crowds.

As the fair became more commercial, then-governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo decided four years ago to hold a separate fair in Monas to bring back the spirit of the fair. Only one year later, Jokowi’s successor, then-acting governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, relocated the fair back to Kemayoran amid damages the fair did to Monas park.

Nevertheless, the Jakarta Fair has been always intended as the people’s celebration. See you at the Fair!