President Jokowi Visits LuLu Hypermarket Abu Dhabi, Greeted with Indonesia Raya Song

President Jokowi Visits LuLu Hypermarket Abu Dhabi, greeted with Indonesia Raya Song

After attending a business meeting and other events, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Sunday at 9.15 local time visited LuLu Hypermarket, an outlet selling Indonesian products.

LuLu Hypermarket has 165 outlets, scattered in the Middle East and the rest of Asia.

The one visited by the President is located in Khalidiyah shopping mall, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Indonesian citizens in Abu Dhabi, including Indonesian migrant workers, students, and many others, already waited for the President’s arrival. They looked enthusiastic to wait for the President Jokowi, who made his first working visit to the Middle East countries.

In the meantime, Yousuf Ali, the owner of LuLu Hypermarket, welcomed the President, who shook hands with Indonesian citizens while walking to the hypermarket. The residents were so enthusiastic to welcome the President and without any command, they sang national anthem, Indonesia Raya.

Meanwhile, speaking to the journalists during the visit, President Jokowi said that his visit to LuLu Hypermarket was to see Indonesian products, be it those manufactured in factories or products produced by farmers such as red onion, fruits (papaya, soursop, guava, mangoes, jackfruit), and other products.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also reminded the owner, whom the President has known since 11 years ago, to promote products from villages such as handicrafts.

“I also asked the owner to increase the number of products imported from Indonesia,” the President said.

President Jokowi also asked about the prices of those Indonesian products.

“Prices of Indonesian products are competitive. However, in terms of quality, they have to be improved,” the President said, adding that to improve the quality is the Government’s duty.

“The products have competitiveness. There’s no problem. However, the quality has to be improved,” he added.

Accompanying the President during the visit were Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of Trade Thomas Lembong, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and Head of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Sofyan Djalil.(ES/Humas) (EP/YM/Naster)