Jakarta Celebrates 499th Anniversary, Economy Hits Rp2 Trillion

Jakarta marked its 499th anniversary with a series of events centred on Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (HI). Tens of thousands of residents and visitors gathered for the "Jakarta Penuh Warna" cultural parade, Car Free Day activities along Sudirman‑Thamrin, and performances that highlighted the city’s diversity.

The night‑time celebration generated an estimated economic turnover of Rp 2 trillion in the HI area, while the overall city reported Rp 75 trillion activity during the Ramadan‑Idul Fitri period. Vice‑Governor Rano Karno expressed emotion over the disciplined crowds and the surge in tourism and retail traffic.

Governor Pramono Anung used the occasion to reaffirm Jakarta’s goal of becoming a comfortable, inclusive global city. He outlined priority projects ahead of the 500‑year milestone, including the extension of LRT from Velodrome to Manggarai and onward to Dukuh Atas, revitalisation of Taman Semanggi, an underground link between HI‑area hotels and the MRT station, a waste‑to‑energy plant, and river normalisation to curb flooding. Traffic management plans were deployed to control road closures around the celebration venues.

These initiatives aim to sustain Jakarta’s economic resilience and improve public services such as education, health, and transport as the capital prepares for its next centenary.