FIRST LADY OPENS NUSANTARA BATIK SHOW

Jakarta, Aug 26 (ANTARA) - First Lady Ani Yudhoyono here on Wednesday opened a Nusantara (archipelagic) Batik Show, organized by the Indonesian Batik Foundation (YBI).

In her opening address, the fist lady said the batik show this time was a reflection of batik creation and development as part of Indonesian culture from generation to generation.

"This show is expected to increase the love of Indonesian younger generation to love wearing batik," Ani Yudhoyono said.

On the occasion, the first lady presented an appreciation to five women who have been diligently making batik since their young age up to the present, namely Ibu Abdul Bari of Bantul, Ibu Ipoh Latipoh of Tasikmalaya, Ibu Enoh of Tasikmalaya, Ibu Etin of Cirebon, and Ibu Dasimah of Bantul.

Meanwhile, YBI chairperson Jultin Ginandjar Kartasasmita said the batik show was organized to make it familiar for the public, especially the younger generation.

A total of 400 companies across the country participated in the show which is to last until August 30, 2009.

The opening ceremony of the batik fair was also marked with a fashion show with female ministers, wives of United Indonesia Cabinet ministers, Indonesian female ambassadors, and the wives of foreign ambassadors as the models.

Besides Ani Yudhoyono, National Education Ministry's Director General Muhammad also gave an appreciation to nine district heads and mayors who permitted schools in their regions to apply batik-making extracurricular.

The district heads and mayors who received the appreciation from the National Education Ministry's director general were among others Surakarta Mayor Djoko Widodo, Pekalongan Mayor Mohamad Basyir Ahmad, Cirebon district head Dedi Supardi, and Cirebon Mayor Subardi.

Present at the opening ceremony were Regional Representatives Council (DPD) chairman Ginanjar Kartasasmita, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik, and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo.