Cablegate: First Lady Launches Boutique to Promote Indonesian

VZCZCXRO1803
RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #3021 3021027
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291027Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6844
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1024
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4430
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1443
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4262
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS JAKARTA 003021

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS AND INR/B
TREASURY FOR IA-SETH SEARLS
COMMERCE FOR 4430/BERLINGUETTE

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: EINV ECON SCUL PINR ID
SUBJECT: FIRST LADY LAUNCHES BOUTIQUE TO PROMOTE INDONESIAN
ARTISANS

REF: Jakarta 02924

1. On October 29, Indonesian First Lady Ani Bambang Yudhoyono
continued to raise her profile (reftel) by launching Alun Alun, a
high-end boutique for Indonesian cultural products aimed at
promoting small and medium-sized artisan businesses. The First Lady
expressed hope that the venture also will raise the profile of
Indonesia indigenous products within Indonesian and around the
world. The boutique will provide customers with a one stop shop for
high quality Indonesian items, including a broad array of
handicrafts, jewelry, clothing and culinary products. Trade Minster
Mari Pangestu, who also spoke at the launch, noted that Alun Alun
would assist its artisan suppliers in upgrading the packaging and
presentation of their products for international markets. Pangestu
also commented that Alun Alun's management team is considering
expanding the shop to overseas locations to promote trade in
Indonesian cultural goods.

2. The First Lady remarked that the Alun Alun project closely
aligned with her vision for an Indonesia with a strong sense of its
own culture and a respect for its diverse traditions. While she
noted that openness to influence from foreign cultures is important,
she believes that foreign influence should enrich Indonesia's
existing culture rather than replace it. She hopes that the Alun
Alun venture will promote prosperity for its artisan suppliers while
strengthening the domestic and international reputation of
Indonesian goods.

HUME

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