President dedicates projects worth Rp12.9 billion in Tomohon

Tomohon, North Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono symbolically dedicated five projects worth more than Rp12.9 billion in Tomohon, North Sulawesi province on Sunday.

The head of state was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Aburizal Bakrie and North Sulawesi Governor Sarundajang when dedicating the projects.

The function was attended by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Nicolaus Van Dam, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriantono, Tomohon Mayor Jefferson Rumajar and Minahasa district head Vreeke Runtu.

Indonesia was still facing fundamental problems of poverty, unemployment and foreign debts, the president said, adding that in efforts to overcome poverty, the government has allocated a budget of Rp51 trillion to help poor families in 2007.

Thus, the head of state called on all layers of the people, including the governors, mayors and district heads, to make concerted efforts to deal with poverty and unemployment.

The president pointed out that the government would increase rice production by two million tons to 54 million tons through an agricultural revitalization program in 2007.

The projects dedicated by the president included a palm sugar factory in Tomohon with an investment of more than Rp8.6 billion employing 38 workers, and a TV5D television studio in the same town with an investment of Rp3 billion employing 51 people.

The other newly dedicated projects include a logistics depot in Pulau Miangas, Sangihe district, with an investment of more than Rp666 million, and a logistics depot in Pulau Marore, Talaud district with an investment of more than Rp663 million.

On the occasion, the head of state also led a ceremony marking the first export of 12.5 tons of palm sugar, and had a meeting with about 4,000 palm sugar farmers.