REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATUSANGKAR -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will provide assistance worth Rp1 billion for the purchase of furnishing for 'Istano Basa Pagaruyung' Palace in Tanahdatar, West Sumatra.

"The President has promised to provide assistance worth Rp1 billion for the development of the palace's accessories," West Sumatra Deputy Governor Muslim Kasim said during the President's inspection tour of the palace here on Wednesday.

He said that the assistance was part of the president's attention to the palace in an effort to preserve the 'Minang' (West Sumatra's ethnic tribe) heritage.

President Yudhoyono visited Batusangkar on Wednesday to tour the palace renovation, which had been completed. "The palace will be inaugurated, along with the 'Layang Kelok Sembilan' bridge, which coincides with the anniversary celebration of World Food Day in Padang, provincial capital of West Sumatra.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his entourage arrived in Padang, West Sumatra for a four-day working visit on Monday.

In the company of First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, the president arrived at Minangkabau International Airport in Padang at 12.20 pm and was greeted by West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno.

During the visit, President Yudhoyono was accompanied by a number of cabinet ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto; Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto; Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi; Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam; Finance Minister Chatib Basri; Attorney General Basrief Arief; and Regional Representatives Council Chairman Irman Gusman.

During his visit to West Sumatra, the president attended a number of events in Bukittinggi and Padang, which included inspecting a library and the Kelok Sembilan bridge at Limapuluh Kota district, as well as visiting the Istano Basa Pagaruyung palace at Tanah Datar and attending World Food Day event in Padang.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono attended the commemoration of World Food Day on Thursday.

World Food Day is celebrated throughout the world every October 16 to help increase understanding of food-related problems and to find solutions in the drive to end hunger.

The theme of World Food Day 2013 is "Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition", according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika