The opening ceremony was attended by among others Deputy Minister for National Development Planning DR. Lukita Dinarsyah Tuwo, the home affairs ministry`s Director General of Regional Development Syamsul Arif Rifai, Setia Budi Algamar, expert staff of the Public Works Ministry, and Edi Wibowo of the Transportation Ministry.
A number of governors from Sulawesi Islands were also present on the occasion, such as South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasim Limpo, and West Sulawesi Governor Anwar Adnan Saleh.
Fadel in his opening speech said the congress was crucial as a reference for the implementation of the national development program in 2012.
The congress should be able to produce decisions that could speed up the implementation of development projects on Sulawesi Island, where some areas are still considered backward, he said.
The minister believed that Sulawesi has adequate natural and human resources which are as good as those on Java and Sumatra islands.
The development projects should be able to improve the welfare of Sulawesi`s people, the minister, who was originally from Gorontalo, northern Sulawesi, said. (*)
HAJM/F001
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
