President Jokowi Visits Samosir Island

Simalungun, N Sumatra (Antara Bali)- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) visited Samosir District, an island located in the middle of Lake Toba, North Sumatra, on Sunday morning.

The President and entourage left Parapat, Simalungun District, by a speedboat for Tomok harbor, Samosir Island, Bey Machmudin, head of the Press, Media and Information Bureau, of the Presidential Secretariat, said.

On Samosir Island, President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana will visit several tourist objects and plant trees with local residents.

Later at noon, the Head of State will proceed to Toba Samosir for an Independence Day carnival dubbed Lake Toba Charm.

Jokowi and Iriani are expected to wear traditional clothes of Batak during the carnival organized to promote Lake Toba as an international tourist destination and to celebrate the 71st anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day.

The event will be participated in by some four thousand representatives of 26 provinces, seven districts located around Lake Toba, eight sub-ethnics, and various cultural communities.

The carnival featuring traditional dances and songs  will cover a total route reaching more than 3.5 kilometers.

Among ministers scheduled to attend the carnival are Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, Tourism Minister  Arief Yahya, and Environmental Affairs and Forestry Siti Nurbaya. (WDY)