After inaugurating the Lombok International Air Port, here on Thursday, the president also asked ministers and guests attending the ceremony to give their votes for Komodo.
"Please type Komodo and send it to 9818," the President said in the event which was also attended by former vice president M Jusuf Kalla who had been named Indonesia`s Komodo ambassador.
The head of state hoped Komodo could become one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Jusuf Kalla has been actively campaigning for Komodo as a candidate in the New Seven Wonders competition. He has asked the Indonesian people to support Komodo in the race.
Komodo Island located in East Nusa Tenggara is the only island in the world which has komodo dragons or giant lizards.
The Komodo National Park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, altogether covering a total area of 1,817 square kilometers.
The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon. Later, it was also dedicated to protecting other species, including marine animals. The islands of the national park are of volcanic origin.
Among ministers attending the Lombok international airport inauguration ceremony were Education and Culture Minister M Nuh, Communication and Informatics Minister Tifatul Sembiring, Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo and Attorney General Basrief Arief.
Also present on the occasion were among others Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Minister of State-owned Enterprises (BUMN) Dahlan Iskan and Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam.
(SYS/F001/O001)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
