G-15 ministers begin globalization talks<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Foreign ministers of the Group of 15 developing
\nnations began their meeting here on Monday to discuss the group's
\nstrategies in facing globalization.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said in his
\nopening speech that there were fears and doubts among developing
\ncountries in facing globalization, with some concerned that they
\nwould be unable to integrate their economies within the global
\neconomy, while others are lagging far behind and suffering from
\ninsufficient growth.<\/p>\n
"The situation has become even more complicated with the
\nadvent of the era of the knowledge-based economy, in which a
\ncountry can achieve a great leap forward with productivity gains
\nderived from the rapid advances in information and communication
\ntechnologies (ICTs)," Alwi said in his speech.<\/p>\n
The knowledge-based economy presents significant opportunities
\nfor both developed and developing countries to achieve higher
\ngrowth rates and raise living standards, the minister noted.<\/p>\n
Reiterating a statement of Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri when opening the G-15 private sector meeting last
\nweek, Alwi disclosed the bitter fact that 95 percent of the
\nworld's population of six billion people live outside the
\nknowledge-based economy and are not in a position to enjoy its
\nbenefits.<\/p>\n
"And this is because people of the developing world lack the
\neducation, infrastructure and institutional support necessary to
\nenable them to exploit this technology in the pursuit of
\ndevelopment," Alwi said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is still not in a position to reap the benefits of
\nICTs and thus can not fully enjoy the benefits of a knowledge-
\nbased economy due to the digital divide between its urban and
\nrural sectors.<\/p>\n
Citing this country's experience, the minister disclosed that
\nthere are only eight million telephone subscribers and 2.4
\nmillion Internet users in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"This is hardly a sufficient number, however, considering
\nIndonesia's population of some 220 million people," Alwi
\nlamented.<\/p>\n
Alwi was only able to chair the opening ceremony of the
\nmeeting before being summoned to Merdeka Palace by President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid. After later hosting a working luncheon with
\nthe foreign ministers, Alwi again left the venue for undisclosed
\nreasons.<\/p>\n
The session was then presided over by Ministry of Foreign
\nAffairs Director General of Foreign Economic Cooperation Makarim
\nWibisono during Alwi's absence.<\/p>\n
A total of 13 foreign ministers from the 19 G-15 member states
\nattended proceedings.<\/p>\n
Separately, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said
\nglobalization was irreversible and action needed to be taken to
\nbridge the digital divide between developing and developed
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
"Our meeting intends to see how we can take advantage of the
\ncurrent globalization process and how developing countries can
\ntake advantage of, share experiences and work together with
\ncountries in the G-8 group of developed countries, Syed said on
\nthe sidelines of the meeting.<\/p>\n
The G-15 was established in 1989, originally comprising 15
\nmember countries. When four new countries later joined the group,
\nleaders determined to maintain the G-15 name.<\/p>\n
Its membership comprises Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
\nColombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya,
\nMalaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela
\nand Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid is scheduled to open the two-day
\nsummit on Wednesday. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
\nwill be among the prominent heads of government who have
\nconfirmed their presence. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and
\nJamaican Prime Minister James Patterson have also announced their
\nparticipation. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/g-15-ministers-begin-globalization-talks-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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