President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opens the ASEAN Fair in the courtyard of Nusa Dua Convention Center, Bali, on Monday afternoon. The event will last for one month, along with the implementation of the 19th ASEAN Summit, 24 October to 23 November 2011.

I am pleased to invite all the people [of ASEAN] to take part in the celebration of the festival, he said.

The president states that the fair is as one of the ways to implement the determination of ASEAN as a community-based organizations to strengthen the social and cultural pillars among ASEAN countries.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu says that this year ASEAN is held under the theme Hello ASEAN, which signifies a warm welcome of Indonesian people to their fellow ASEAN members.

As Chairman of ASEAN of the year, Indonesia initiated the ASEAN Fair Indonesia 2011 as a venue where cultural and creative economy in ASEAN can be exhibited together, he said.

According to Mari, culture is an integral aspect to unify the nation and among nations so that through the universal language of culture Indonesia would like to give special acknowledgment to the ASEAN identity and the association of the ASEAN community.

ASEAN Fair will show the rich heritage of cultural diversity, history, and society of the country members that make us one community, he said.

The launching of the ASEAN Fair 2011 is conducted at Bali Tourism Development Center (BTDC), Nusa Dua and attended by the Minister for Coordination of the Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika, Regent of Badung Anak Agung Gde Agung and the ambassadors of ASEAN country member and partners.

The inauguration is marked by beating Bali kentongan and followed by a procession of Bleganjur and ogoh-ogoh carrying the logo Hello ASEAN as well as the parade of 10 floats representing 10 ASEAN countries. The procession is also enlivened by 30 Indonesia percussion and 30 Indonesia dancers and closed by acrobatic air show sponsored by the Ministry of Defense.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, a giant flag representing 10 country members of ASEAN will be marched toward the National Museum (Monas) on October 30th.

Source : budpar.go.id