The government of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, has announced that it will continue to sponsor the Indonesian Open until at least the 2010 tournament. The country's financial struggles had led many to suggest the authority would be unable to extend its sponsorship, but a government spokesman confirmed that it would do so - even if the competition is held in Bali to save costs.

"We will look for the best place for the tournament," said the city governor, Fauzi Bowo. "Such a sponsorship will soon become popular as promoting a city within the city's own restrictive territory is an old marketing strategy. Look at the Paris-Dakar rally. This year it was held in Argentina and Chile."

The event has been co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours since 2005. It carries a prize of US$1.25 million. Bowo insists that the dual sanctioning is of especial benefit to the international promotion of Jakarta. "I consider this a good thing for Jakarta, because we reach almost 800 million people in over 90 countries around the world," he said, adding that the US$1.25 million prize money will still be on offer. "The golfers don't only see the courses, but also the prize money. If there is no big purse, no one will come to even a beautiful course."