PRESIDENT TO DEDICATE SEVERAL PROJECTS IN ACEH

Banda Aceh, Aug 5 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to dedicate several development projects in Aceh province on Thursday.

"Besides opening the 5th Aceh Cultural Week (PKA-V) and Aceh International Expo 2009, the president will also dedicate some other development projects which have been completed," Aceh provincial administration spokesman Nurdin F Joes said here on Wednesday.

He said the projects the head of state would dedicate were among others Sultan Iskandar Muda (SIM) airport in Blam Bintang, Redelong and Labuhan Haji Barat drinking water project in Aceh Selatan district, Pasantren T Chik Oemar Dian drinking water facility, the 20-km Tutut-Meulaboh road, the 26-km Sabang-Iboh road, and Kampung Jawa trash dumping site project.

"The Blang Bintang Sultan Iskandar Muda airport and the other development projects will be dedicated by the president at 9:20 on Thursday morning," Nurdin Joes said.

Meanwhile, Aceh Vice Governor Muhammad Nazar said recently that a number of countries, including Malaysia, China, Germany, Australia, and South Korea had confirmed their participation in the 5th Aceh Cultural Week.

Nazar, who is also chairman of the PKA's organizing committee, said the amount of funds made available for this year's event was Rp4.5 billion or much less than the Rp10 billion spent on the week in 2005.

"Although the 5th Aceh Cultural Week is organized with fewer funds, we hope the event will be more meaningful to the participants and visitors," he said.

He said the organizing committee had distributed more than 3,000 brochures and 2,000 invitations through internet for the event which would be opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Aceh Cultural and Tourism Office chief Mirzan Fuady said all ministers, governors, district heads across Aceh, ambassadors, and peace-making figures were expected to attend the opening ceremony.

"All necessary preparations have also been completed, including lodging arrangements for the foreign participants," Mirzan Fuady said.

He said all hotels in Banda Aceh had been asked to help make the event a success by charging their guests at discounted rates.

He said besides the Aceh Cultural Week, Aceh would also organize an Aceh International Expo (AIE) participated in by a number of countries and provinces in Indonesia such as East Kalimantan, Medan municipality, Kutai Kartanegara, and Garut.