BI READY TO SUPPORT SAIL BANDA 2010

Ambon, Jan 25 (ANTARA) - Bank Indonesia (the central bank) of Ambon branch is to open money changer counters and ATM boots in Banda to support international marine event Sail Banda 2010, scheduled from July to August this year.

"Besides BI, a number of banks such as Bank BRI, Bank Central Asia (BCA), and Bank BNI will also provide services for financial transactions in Banda to support the event," Ambon branch Bank Indonesia spokesman Totok Hermianto said here on Monday.

Totok admitted that he had discussed the event with the leaders of the banks operating in Ambon and they agreed to open banking service counters in Banda.

"Foreign tourists visiting Banda, as well as the participants of Sail Banda 2010 will find it easy to make financial transactions following the opening of banking service counters in Banda during the international marine event," Totok said.

He expressed hope that the promotion of Sail Banda 2010 would be intensified in order to have a good impact on the improvement of Maluku economic development in the future.
"All public elements should support the event together by making an all out promotion so that it can have a positive impact on regional economic development and the local people's income," Totok said.

Meanwhile, Maluku Culture and Tourism office spokesperson Florence Sahusilawane admitted on a separate occasion that she continued to familiarize the international marine event by involving district administrations in Maluku and related institutions.

Especially at national and international levels, Sahusilawane said the Maluku Culture and Tourism office had made intensively promoting Sail Banda 2010 through brochures, leaflets, both print and electronic media, including its website www.sailbanda.com .

"We have also made use of various events such as the observance of World Peace Day on November 25, 2009 and the election of tourism ambassadors on December 1-6, 2009 to promote Sail Banda 2010," Sahusilawane said.