FIRST LADY OPENS HANDICRAFT COUNCIL CONGRESS

Jakarta, April 17 (ANTARA) - First Lady Ani Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened a national congress of the National Handicraft Council (Dekranas) 2010, here, Saturday.

The one-day congress themed "Developing Creative Economic Through Technology, Innovation, and Culture-based Handicraft Development, is being held at Smesco Building, Jakarta.

The First Lady was accompanied by Mrs. Herawati Boediono (wife of the vice president), Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Industry Minister Ms Hidayat, Small and Medium Scale Business and Cooperatives Minister Syarief Hassan.

Dekranas was established on March 3, 1980, as a non-profit and independent organization aimed at developing and preserving culture and handicraft as cultural heritage as well as marketing and promoting handicraft products in order to improve the people's welfare.

The trade minister said handicraft products are one of main state revenue contributors.