President visits earthenware and ceramics industry center
Antara, Indonesia
Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his entourage on Thursday visited an earthenware and ceramics industry center at Kasongan village, Kasihan sub district, Bantul district, in Yogyakarta.
At the center, the president held a dialog with scores of local craftsmen whose work places were destroyed by a powerful earthquake last May 27.
The dialog was held to give the craftsmen an opportunity to tell the president about their problems directly so that the government could help them find a way out
On the occasion, Yudhoyono asked the craftsmen to improve the quality of their products as a way to overcome the poverty and unemployment problems in the country.
He said the handicraft industries in Kasongan, Bantul, should be further developed to create job opportunities and alleviate poverty.
“Indonesia`s industrial and handicraft products in foreign markets are not second to similar products from other countries,” the president said.
Yudhoyono said by applying the right policies and with assistance from the regional and central governments, the handicraft industries could develop well.
But to make this happen, the domestic markets should first be strengthened, he said.
Citing an example, he said holding handicraft fairs in the country was the right strategy to strengthen the domestic markets.
“I always visit a handicraft fairs that are held to make sure that our products are not less competitive than those from other countries,” the president said.
During the visit to the Kasongan earthenware and ceramics center, President Yudhoyono was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, a number of cabinet ministers and Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X. (*)