Sultan Of Yogyakarta Hosts Dinner Banquet For IMF Director

YOGYAKARTA, March 1 (Antara) - The governor and sultan of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, held a dinner banquet for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde at the Yogyakarta Palace on Wednesday night. Lagarde arrived at the palace at 7 pm Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB) and was greeted by the Sultan, his daughter Gusti Kanjeng Ratu (GKR) Bendoro, and numerous local government officials. The Sultan served the IMF managing director with a number of Yogyakarta Royal Palace typical dishes, and the "Beksan Lawung Jajar" classical dance. The dance, created by Sultan Hamengku Buwono I, depicts the war exercises of the palace warrior by using a blunt lawung or swords. "We give our high appreciation for the arrival of Madam Christine, for her visit is also an honor for us," said Sultan. Further, he expressed hope that that in the visit, Lagarde could gain first hand information about a number of predicates given to Yogyakarta as the city of culture, education, tolerance, and world's batik. "Today Madam Christine can see for herself whether the predicates are indeed worthy of being carried by Yogyakarta," Sri Sultan said. Earlier on Monday, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Lagarde discussed about the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) issue in Jakarta. "This morning, I asked Mrs. Lagarde about how the small, microeconomics, and middle-scale economy could face economic digitization," Jokowi stated, when visiting Tanah Abang Market with Lagarde on Monday. Jokowi and Lagarde also held a meeting at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, and later continued to visit the Central Hospital of Pertamina and Tanah Abang Market. Jokowi revealed that Legarde had suggested some formulas related to his question. This is an important issue because it has to do with the future of the Tanah Abang Market that has more than 19 thousand stalls, he noted. "I think this is a big opportunity to support our economic policy," he remarked. The president, on the occasion, accompanied Lagarde to buy some souvenirs at the Tanah Abang Market.