Sutiyoso visits South Africa

JAKARTA: Governor Sutiyoso on Thursday kicked off his ten-day official visit to two African countries to sign a provincial city agreement with South Africa's province of Kwazuku Natal and a sister city agreement with Mozambique's capital of Maputo.

Sutiyoso was accompanied by a number of city administration officials and some 30 garment and textile traders from Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta.

"As you know Tanah Abang textiles are very popular. The traders will try to seek business partners in those countries," said City Hall spokesman Tjatur Laswanto on Friday.

With the signing of two agreements in the two African countries, Jakarta already has 15 sister city and province agreements.

Tjatur said Sutiyoso would return to Jakarta on Dec. 3. --JP