WEF TO OFFER CHANCES TO LOCAL BUSINESSES

By Andi Abdussala

Jakarta, June 8 (ANTARA) - Indonesian businessmen are expected to take advantage of  the two-day World Economic Forum-East Asia (WEF-EA) which will begin in Jakarta on Sunday.          About 600 global economic policy makers will gather for two days to address and discuss global economic conditions, investment, trade, energy, food security and other global economic issues.          This forum offers a great chance for Indonesian businesses where global economic players are believed to be willing to expand business networks and to seek business partners in Indonesia, a country known for its richness in natural resources and has great business potentials.          "We want to take advantage of the event which is very prestigious, which will be attended by approximately 600 participants," Chief Economic Minister Hatta Raja said. He claimed that the holding of the world forum in Indonesia indicated the country had become the target of global business makers to find  business partners.          "They see Indonesia as a good country and place to find  business partners. During the forum, the will also express their views about global conditions,  investment, trade, food security, and others," he said.          Therefore, local business players hope they can expand their networks and share experience with global counterparts  through the annual World Economic Forum.          "Leaders of global industries will gather here, as a local company intending to expand globally, we hope to take advantage of the forum to build wider networks," Shinta Widjaja, managing director of Sintesa Group, said.           Shinta, who leads a family firm which is doing business in many sectors, including energy, industry and hotels, said she also hoped to get new knowledge about sustainable industries from global business players.           "We will also share our experience in realizing sustainable industrial activities. Although we are still active in a local scope we actually have done something," she said.           President Director of PT Bakrie Telecom Anidya Novyan Bakrie said meanwhile that the forum offered a chance for business makers in Indonesia to establish business and investment cooperation with global business players.           "This is a rare moment. So, we should be able to take advantage of it. This will help us attract business cooperation and investment from other countries,  because we still need funds for certain business sectors such as infrastructure," she said.           Freddy Tulung, a senior official of the Communications and Informatics Ministry, said the meeting will give Indonesia  very positive exposure.  "The presence of   global and Asia-Pacific decision makers will create opportunities for trade and investment as well as tourism activities," he said.           Director General for International Trade Cooperation of the Trade Ministry Gusmardi Bustami explained that the government and businesses could utilize Indonesia's position as host of the forum to expand business network and promote the country's potentials.          "We hope this would attract investment, tourists and boost economic growth," he said.          He said that the forum   would discuss various problems including the world economic situation at present and its projection in the future, food security, energy and multilateral trade cooperation development.          According to Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, East Asia is playing its role at the global level today. Business leaders are interested in the topics to be taken to the forum and this would be beneficial to business leaders in Indonesia.          Held for the first time in Indonesia, where executives of the IMF, ADB, UNCTAD, UNWTO and top leaders from a number of countries such Singapore and Malaysia will also attend,  the 20th meeting  of WEF-EA will discuss efforts to give response to the new globalization.          "The main theme of the forum is to give a response to  new globalization. There are  also sub-themes which are among others aimed to discuss how to manage the global turmoil and climate change, geopolitical risks, the problem of unemployment, food security and energy, and others,"  Hatta Rajasa said.          Indonesia will bring up the issues of food security and energy affairs. "There will be a session for the subject matter of foods and energy, so that the Agriculture Minister and the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister (ESDM) will speak in the forum," Hatta said.          The food security and the energy matters is a big challenge the countries in the world should face, including in East Asia with their rapid growth. "We will make use of this meeting to seek solution against this matter," Hatta said.          Indonesia's delegation will consist of officials from the coordinating ministry for economic affairs, the foreign affairs ministry, the finance ministry and the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).           The country's delegates will also include representatives of Pertamina, Bank Mandiri, BNI 46, Group Lippo, Group Sintesa, Bumi Resources, Indika Energy, PT EMTEK, PT Smart, PT. Indorama, Quvat, PT Astra International Tbk, Agung Podomoro Group, and PT Gajah Tunggal.           As many as 16 Indonesian high ranking government officials in addition to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono, Minister Hatta Radjasa, Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu and chief of the National Investment Coordinating Board Gita Wirjawan will attend the WEF-EA meeting.***5*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/23:18/a014) 08-06-2011 23:23: