President chairs coordination meeting on ASEAN Fair

JIMBARAN, BALI - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyo chaired a coordination meeting here on Saturday to discuss the organization of a planned ASEAN Fair.

The ASEAN Fair was planned as an additional event during ASEAN and East Asia summits to take place in Bali in November this year.

Started at 8 am Central Indonesian Standard Time (WITA), the coordination meeting at the Puri Kencana room of Bali Intercontinental Hotel in Jimbaran district was attended by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik.

Also present at the meeting were First Lady Ani Yudhoyono and Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika and his wife.

In his introduction before starting the meeting, President Yudhoyono said the presence of the first lady was to clarify so-called spouse program which was commonly held at each high-level conferences such as ASEAN, East Asia, and G-20 summits.

The head of state said the spouse program in ASEAN and East Asia summits in Bali in November 2011 should be better than the ever existing programs to serve as a lasting memory for the participants.

As the ASEAN chairman in 2011 to host ASEAN Summit and East Asia Summit (EAS) in November this year, Indonesia will also organize ASEAN Fair for the fist time to introduce various cultural products and excellent creative works from each participating country.

"Through the ASEAN Fair we can promote our excellent art works of handicrafts, batiks, and other unique creative economic products with high artistic values," the president said.

President Yudhoyono expressed hope that the ASEAN Fair would last for one whole month with its final day coinciding with the ASEAN and East Asia summits, also attended by United States President Barack Obama and Russian President Dimitry Medvedev.

source : waspada.co.id