Action plan vital for best results from A-A Summit<\/p>\n
Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Governments from Asian and African countries must quickly come up
\nwith an action plan to create stronger economic ties so that the
\nrecent New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership (NAASP) bears fruit.<\/p>\n
Senior economist at the Centre for Strategic and International
\nStudies (CSIS), Hadi Soesastro, said the action plan must include
\nsteps to facilitate the private sector in Asia and Africa. He
\nprioritized direct shipping routes and direct flights between
\nboth continents to make it easier for businessmen meet their
\ncounterparts.<\/p>\n
He added that the African market has yet to be a priority due
\nto its small market size and the absence of direct shipping
\nroutes.<\/p>\n
Therefore, he said, the government could facilitate private
\nsector by, for instance, providing a subsidized shipping line to
\ncut costs in exporting to Africa.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the sidelines of the Afro-Asian Movement and The
\nWorld of Tomorrow seminar, jointly held by The Jakarta Post and
\nCSIS, Hadi took Malaysia as an example. Malaysia, he said, has
\nhad a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Johannesburg for years
\nto help connect their businessmen with the African private
\nsector.<\/p>\n
\"I believe the direct flight must be booking loses rather than
\nprofits, but the Malaysian government has subsidized it. It's the
\ncost that must be paid for opening a new trade market,\" he said.<\/p>\n
To narrow the gap between both continent's businesses, the
\nIndonesian Employers Association (Apindo) chairman Sofjan Wanandi
\nurged the two to get to know each other better.<\/p>\n
\"To be frank, we have never had a relationship with African
\nbusinessmen before,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As a follow-up to last week's Asian-African Summit, members of
\nthe Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) will
\nvisit Africa later this year. \"The door is open, now it's time
\nfor us to use the opportunity,\" Sofjan said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Trade Mari E. Pangestu had earlier said the
\ngovernment would start facilitating partnerships with Africa by
\nproviding more information, conducting market research and
\nencouraging the pooling of exports to produce a sufficient volume
\nof trade.<\/p>\n
\"To increase our trade, we will have to consider a number of
\ngateways to penetrate the Southern, Western or Northern African
\nmarkets. We must also have more promotion and information and
\nwork on financing and transportation links,\" she said last week.<\/p>\n
During Tuesday's seminar, former foreign minister Ali Alatas
\nsaid that although the 1955 Bandung Spirit had inspired Asian and
\nAfrican countries to obtain their independence, 50 years later
\nmany nations of the two continents still had no economic freedom.<\/p>\n
\"Political independence without economic independence can in
\nno way free the teeming millions of the developing world from the
\npoverty trap they are in,\" Ali said.<\/p>\n
He concluded that challenges such as true independence,
\njustice and equitable development, can only be met if Asian-
\nAfrican nations summon the necessary political will, pool their
\nresources and act together in addressing these challenges.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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