RRI.CO.ID, Samarinda – “Kaltim Fair 2026” officially opened at Big Mall Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, and will run until Sunday, 19 April 2026. The event features 33 exhibition booths from administration agencies, private businesses, MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), and the automotive sector.

Carrying the theme “Kaltim Successfully Moving Toward the Golden Generation”, Kaltim Fair 2026 reflects efforts to drive regional economic growth by strengthening local business sectors and promoting regional potential.

This was highlighted by the Governor’s Special Staff for Natural Resources (SDA), Regional Economy, and People’s Welfare, Arief Murdiyatno, in his opening remarks. He said the event is part of a strategy to introduce local products to a wider audience.

“With this event we hope it can act as a catalyst, especially since it is held in one of Samarinda’s largest malls, which naturally attracts many visitors, particularly on weekends,” he said.

Aside from increasing exposure for the products and services on display, Arief hopes the fair will also generate sales transactions during the event. In previous years, Kaltim Fair recorded economic transactions reaching up to IDR 1 billion (USD 58,348.50).

“Last year, economic transactions reached IDR 1 billion. We hope this year can become a further trigger, given the large number of booths, especially for MSMEs, so they can ‘move up a level,’” he added.

Arief also noted that the event does not solely target local visitors but also opens opportunities for tourists from outside the region and even overseas to see East Kalimantan’s potential firsthand. The hope is that such exposure will lead to future business partnerships and investment.

In addition to exhibitions, Kaltim Fair 2026 includes a series of supporting activities that involve the public and local artists. The schedule features cultural dialogues, talk shows, and various competitions such as inland‑style dance, coastal dance, tarsul, sape music, coloring contests, and fashion shows.

Through this combination of exhibitions and cultural activities, Kaltim Fair is expected to serve as a platform for economic promotion. It also aims to strengthen regional cultural identity while supporting economic growth in East Kalimantan. (Annaila Azzahra/Bambang MBKA