President Opens Batik Nusantara Expo

Jakarta, July 17 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened Batik Nusantara Exhibition being held from July 17 to 21, in the Jakarta Convention Center here on Wednesday. The president was accompanied by his wife, Ani Yudhoyono, on the occasion. The chairperson of the National Handicraft Council, Herawati Boediono, was also present in the event. Batik is an icon and the pride of the nation that could help boost the economy, create jobs and provide income to the community, the president said in his speech. Yudhoyono said that based on data, at least 3.5 million people currently work in the batik industry field. Around 500,000 of them are workers who are directly working in batik production. Batik is also continuing to improve. "We must say that our batik is becoming more beautiful every day and having better quality," he said. Industry Minister MS Hidayat said that the expo is expected to help promote the Indonesian batik so it could penetrate a wider market. General Manager of the Indonesian Batik Foundation Yoeltin Ginanjar Kartasamita in her speech said that this is the eighth batik exhibition and the event is being participated in by 422 batik producers from various regions. Also present on the occasion were among others Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Sharif Hasan, Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawan, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Marie Elka Pangestu, and Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo.