Accompanied By Megawati To Puan Maharani, Jokowi Inaugurates Sarinah

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the new face of the Sarinah Building after a major renovation.

Actually, Sarinah has been opened to the public since March 21, but it was only officially inaugurated today.

Sarinah building is currently focused on SMEs and developing local products.

"Alhamdulillah, today we can witness Sarinah's new face. By saying bisamillah this afternoon, I inaugurate Sarinah's transformation," Jokowi said in his remarks at the Sarinah inauguration ceremony, Jakarta, Thursday, July 14.

In the inauguration of the Sarinah Building, Jokowi was accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo, 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarno Putri and Chair of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani.

Then, SOE Minister Erick Thohir, Coordinating Minister for SMEs Teten Masduki, Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria, President Commissioner of PT Aviasi Wisata Indonesia or InJourney Triawan Munaf and President Director Sarinah Ferry Kwartati.

Jokowi said Sarinah has an extraordinary history and meaning. Moreover, it was initiated directly by the Proclaimer of Independence, the First President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir Soekarno with a very noble mission, namely to trade in local goods, goods for our domestic products.

"This is what we will continue. I was also very happy to see products that were very carefully curated, displayed, exhibited with very detailed arrangements. I think professional work like this should be appreciated and appreciated," he said.

On this occasion, Jokowi is grateful to be able to witness Sarinah's transformation.

According to him, Sarinah is an important icon of the Indonesian nation that glues memories from generation to generation.

"This is the new Sarinah which has been transformed and we are happy that today we are inaugurating it, but 4 months before this, 5 million visitors had come to Sarinah," he said.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta also recalled his experience visiting the Sarinah building in the 70s. Jokowi said that at that time only Sarinah had an escalator.

"I remember very well that in the 70s my grandfather invited me to come to Sarinah, maybe in 73-74. And at that time there were only escalators in Sarinah, and I went up and down, up and down, I remember well, up and down up and down I'm very happy. These are things that leave memories that impress us all. People from the area will definitely go to Sarinah," he said.