Mamuju - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono planned to make a working visit to West Sulawesi Province early in May 2008.
"The Presidential visit to West Sulawesi had already been planned for beginning of May by the presidential palace protocol," West Sulawesi Governor Anwar Adnan Saleh told the press in Mamuju Tuesday night.
The governor said that the presidential visit to the region had been postponed several times, and he hoped that this time it will become a reality.
"I have met the President recently, and he promised that he would really come to West Sulawesi this time, especially that under his government he had never visited the region," he said.
Therefore in this context, he said, he had already held a meeting with the relevant local top military and police authorities responsible for the secured and smooth visit of the President to West Sulawesi.
"The administration and people of West Sulawesi are ready to welcome the President, and we hoped his visit would serve as a boost to the development of the province," he said.
Anwar said that while in the region, the President is scheduled to dedicate a number of projects to accelerate the development of the region, and to have a intimate get together with the local people.
The governor also said that a concept on accelerated development of West Sulawesi is now still being drawn up by the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), which may later be laid down in a Presidential Decree, and involve 14 different ministries and institutions under the coordination of the People‘s Welfare Coordinating Minister.
Anwar said West Sulawesi was in a dire need of accelerated development, especially in infrastructure facilities, as the region is very rich in natural resources.
In addition, agricultural development under a revitalization agricultural program, especially in boosting the raising of cacao, as the commodity has a high potential for export.
Source: www.antara.co.id (16 April 2008)
