President Jokowi Visits Central Sulawesi

Palu, C Sulawesi (Antara Bali) - In the company of First Lady Iriana, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his entourage arrived at Mutiara Sis Aljufri airport in Palu, Central Sulawesi at 9:09 a.m. Central Indonesia Standard Time (WITA) for a two-day working visit.

At the Mutiara airport, the head of state was greeted by Central Sulawesi Governor Longki Djanggola and numerous regional officials with local traditional ceremony.

Jokowi's visit to Central Sulawesi was the first after he was inaugurated as the president in October 2014.

From the airport, President Jokowi boarded a military helicopter to Morowali district where he will inaugurate a nickel processing pant in the district.

Central Sulawesi is one of the largest nickel producing regions in Indonesia, with approximately 300 mining license holders (IUPs), producing crude nickel (ore) that has been the largest foreign exchange earner for the province in recent years.

Therefore, three nickel smelters in Morowali are being built by
PT Sulawesi Mining Investment, a joint venture between the local firm PT Bintang Delapan Group and China's Tsingshan Holding Group.

Morowali district head Anwar Hafid said on Thursday that the
PT Sulawesi Mining Investment has early this year made production trial of one of the smelters, and everything was running smoothly.

"That is why the president wants to inaugurate the operation of the smelter during his visit to Morowali and Parigi Moutong on Friday," Anwar hafid remarked.

During the visit to Central Sulawesi, President Jokowi was accompanied by Industry Minister Saleh Husin, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, and Health Minister Nila Moeloek. (WDY)