Mega opens expo but not mouth

SURABAYA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri opened a jewelry exhibition in a hotel here on Friday.

Accompanied by Industry and Trade Minister Rini Soewandi and East Java Governor Imam Oetomo, the President did not make any speech, only pressing a button to mark the official opening of the four-day exhibition, which features about 100 domestic and foreign participants.

Rini told reporters that 43 small and medium enterprises from 12 provinces and participants from Singapore, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates were involved.

She noted that across Indonesia, there were about 2,200 jewelry businesses, exporting products worth US$110 million each year.

After opening the exhibition, President Megawati traveled to Blitar to visit the grave of her father, former president Sukarno. -- Antara