Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his entourage left on Monday for a three-day working visit to Yogyakarta and Balikpapan in East Kalimantan from October 22-24, 2012.

In Yogyakarta, the head of state will attend the opening of an international conference of microfinance at the Sheraton Hotel on Monday morning and then meet with the financial service authority commissioner board in the afternoon.

The head of state will be accompanied at the meeting by State Secretary Minister Sudi Silalahi, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam and presidential spokesman Julian A Pasha.

On Tuesday morning, the president will attend the 5th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR).

According to a written statement from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) public relations officer Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, disaster impact and losses in the Asian region would be discussed during the conference.

Nugroho said that the countries in the Asian region bore the brunt of disasters happening around the world.

Further, he pointed out that of 302 major disasters around the world, 137 occurred in Asia with economic losses amounting to more than US$294 billion.

Besides, floods have affected millions of people in Asia, particularly in Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan and China.

From Yogyakarta, President Yudhoyono and his entourage will leave for Balikpapan on Tuesday afternoon to inaugurate a number of development projects in East Kalimantan. (O001/INE/BSR/O001)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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