Indonesia stamps its mark on APEC<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia asserted itself with their endorsement
\nof the declaration on human resources development, a concept
\nwhich it has helped promote and push into the forefront of the
\nforum's agenda during its one year leadership.<\/p>\n
The declaration on the issue, also one main theme of
\nIndonesia's own long term development program, was endorsed at
\nthe APEC ministerial meeting which concluded on Saturday.<\/p>\n
"This is very important because the success of our cooperation
\ndepends on human resources," said Indonesia's Coordinating
\nMinister of Industry and Trade Hartarto, who chaired the
\nconference.<\/p>\n
According to Hartarto, the declaration will be used as an
\numbrella for various programs to improve the quality of life of
\nthe peoples in the Asia-pacific region.<\/p>\n
"This is important because human resources not only cover the
\nbusiness sector but also the educational," he said<\/p>\n
"It even covers cultural exchanges" Hartarto added.<\/p>\n
Attention to the development of human resources first came to
\nlight when Indonesia, as host of this year's meeting, stipulated
\nit as one of the four main areas of concentration.<\/p>\n
The other three are: infrastructure development, small and
\nmedium enterprises and private sector participation.<\/p>\n
However, significant work on the issue did not begin until the
\nthird APEC Senior Officials Meeting in Yogyakarta last September.
\nAt the time Indonesia proposed a declaration which would cater to
\nthe improvement of people's skills, which has been rightly
\nidentified as the greatest single asset to achieving economic
\ngrowth.<\/p>\n
When the idea was first broached, other members gave strong
\nsupport to the draft declaration. That support was carried on to
\nthe fourth SOM here which was held prior the Ministerial Meeting.<\/p>\n
"China fully endorses Indonesia's proposal that APEC's
\npriority cooperation areas should be infrastructure building,
\nhuman resources development and small and medium enterprises,"
\nremarked Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen.<\/p>\n
Among the priorities in this declaration are the improvement
\nof the quality of basic education and an analysis of the regional
\nlabor market so that programs may be launched in congruence with
\ndemands.<\/p>\n
United States Secretary of State Warren Christopher
\nimmediately followed up the idea with a proposal for an APEC
\neducational foundation. "It could serve as a coordinating point
\nfor all of APEC's educational and human resources development
\nactivities," he told his fellow ministers. "And it would
\ncompliment the Ministers Declaration for a Human Resources
\nDevelopment Framework," he added. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-stamps-its-mark-on-apec-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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