APEC Bogor declaration was 'Soeharto's vision'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United States refuted suggestions of self
\ninterest in pushing for a trade liberalization deadline among the
\nAsia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members, referring
\ninstead to President Soeharto as the author of the deed.<\/p>\n
"This was not an initiative of the United States. It was an
\ninitiative of President Soeharto," said U.S. Under Secretary of
\nState for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs Joan E.
\nSpero yesterday.<\/p>\n
Speaking from Washington through a Worldnet Dialogue
\nbroadcast, Spero defended her argument saying that despite being
\na strong proponent of the idea, it was Indonesia, and not the
\nU.S., which put forth the deadline.<\/p>\n
APEC's economic leaders on Nov. 15 met at Bogor Presidential
\nPalace in West Java and committed themselves to comprehensive
\ntrade liberalization by 2020.<\/p>\n
As stipulated in the Bogor Declaration, the more developed
\nmember economies will pursue a faster target year of 2010.<\/p>\n
APEC, set up in 1989, groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, China,
\nChile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia,
\nMexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.<\/p>\n
A number of observers, including some in yesterday's dialogue,
\nhave noted that the United States would benefit the most from the
\narrangements set out in the Bogor Declaration.<\/p>\n
This fact was further highlighted when U.S. President Bill
\nClinton stated that the United States already has the most open
\nmarkets and thus by opening other markets, American products can
\nbe more competitive.<\/p>\n
Even during Clinton's speech here a day after the Bogor
\nmeeting, a placard behind him proudly boasted "opening markets in
\nAsia, creating jobs in America."<\/p>\n
With technological and capital supremacy, the United States,
\nand other developed countries, would also be at more of an
\nadvantage than the developing nations.<\/p>\n
Spero, however, rejected any notion that the United States was
\nmotivated by such factors and pointed to Indonesia's initiative
\nin including the deadline in the declaration as a defense.<\/p>\n
She did, however, acknowledge that APEC's next meeting under
\nthe Japan's chairmanship will face a difficult task when it tries
\nto draw a blueprint for implementing the leaders' declaration.<\/p>\n
Opportunities<\/p>\n
Indonesian ministers yesterday told business people to grab
\nthe opportunities offered by APEC's trade and investment
\nliberalization, which enables Indonesia to increase its exports,
\ndraw more investment inflow and promote tourist arrivals.<\/p>\n
Minister of Trade and Industry Hartarto, in a briefing for
\nlocal business people on the results of last month's second APEC
\neconomic leaders meeting, explained that APEC will greatly
\nenhance Indonesia's market access in the region.<\/p>\n
"The government will open the markets even wider. And it's
\nyour duty to grab the chances," Hartarto told business people,
\nadding that the region absorbs about 70 percent of Indonesia's
\ntotal non-oil exports.<\/p>\n
Besides Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and
\nMinister\/State Secretary Moerdiono also spoke at yesterday's
\nbriefing.<\/p>\n
As tariff and non-tariff barriers in APEC countries will be
\nreduced in accordance with GATT provisions, Hartarto predicted
\nthat the country's non-oil exports will increase significantly.<\/p>\n
Minister of Trade Satrio B. Joedono has projected that
\nIndonesia's exports will increase by 16 percent annually after
\nnext year's implementation of the new GATT.<\/p>\n
As a result of the second APEC informal summit, Hartarto said,
\nindustrialized members are likely to accelerate their economic
\nrestructuring.<\/p>\n
"It's expected that the industrialized members, especially
\nJapan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Australia,
\nwill relocate some of their industries to developing countries.
\nAnd we have to grab this opportunity as well," Hartarto said,
\nadding that as of last October, 65 percent of Indonesia's total
\nforeign investments came from the region.<\/p>\n
The minister also noted that the high per capita incomes of
\nAPEC members will help spur tourism in Indonesia, saying that 60
\npercent of tourists coming to Indonesia are from the region.
\n"It's expected that the number of tourists coming to Indonesia
\nfrom the region will increases in the future."<\/p>\n
He promised that to ensure a favorable business climate here,
\nthe government will continue dismantling regulatory and
\nbureaucratic hurdles and building infrastructure facilities,
\nespecially those which are not interesting for private sector
\ninvestment.(mds\/rid)<\/p>\n
Health sector -- Page 4<\/p>\n
GATT -- Page 8<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/apec-bogor-declaration-was-soehartos-vision-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }