REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo left for Padang in West Sumatra on Monday evening for a working visit.
He and his entourage departed from Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma aiport at 18.30pm after having visited Breber, Central Java, where he launched a "Synergy Action for People's Economy" program of poverty alleviation.
Among the cabinet ministers accompanying the President to Padang were minister/state secretary Pratikno and cabinet secretary Pramono Anung.
President Joko Widodo is scheduled to open Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo 2016 (MNEK) at the main naval base in Padang on Tuesday.
The MNEK 2016 will be attended by navies from 35 countries, including from Asia, America and Europe.
The event will also feature non-military activities involving the local community.
A number of foreign war ships arrived at Teluk Bayur waters in West Sumatra on Sunday for the event.
"Foreign war ships that would participate in the Komodo 2016 have already arrived," the head of MNEK 2016 publication and documentation affairs, Colonel (Navy) Suradi Agung Slamet, said on Sunday.
Komodo 2016, scheduled from April 12 to 16 in Padang and Mentawai islands, will consist of International Fleet Review (IFR) 2016, 15th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) and 2nd Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo 2016.
The activity will be attended by participants from 35 countries. Navies from countries with different historical backgrounds will cooperate to conduct activities based on humanitarian aid mission exercises such as Medical Civic Action Project (Medcap), Engineering Civic Action Project (Encap) and Maritime Peace Keeping Operation (MPKO).
Other activities to be held at the Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK 2016) include the signing of Peace Monument by President Jokowi (Joko Widodo), a ship tour under the theme of "Ayo ke Laut" (Let's go to the sea), rowing and beach football competition, culinary festival at Cimpago beach and a city parade featuring mascots of each participating country, fun bike race in which WPNS delegations will participate, a dance and band performance and a cultural dinner.
Participating countries plan to send 22 warships. Two MPAs (maritime patrol aircraft) each will come from 15 countries.
Indonesia will send 28 navy warships of various types to the event.
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