Bedugul's executive center promises world class training

Bedugul's executive center promises world class training

Rita A.Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Tabanan, Bali

Bedugul, a holiday resort area some 50 kilometers north of
Denpasar in the mountains, is now offering more than just its
gorgeous panoramic views and its cool weather. The area is now
the center of activities that can hone ones intellectual agility.

Located between Tabanan and Buleleng regencies, Bedugul has
been regarded by the local administration as one of Bali's top
tourist sites.

The area is surrounded by Mount Catur and three large natural
lakes, Bratan, Bunyan and Tamblilingan. Its beautiful landscape
with clipped lawns and colorful flower blankets are a never-
ending source of inspiration for artists and writers. An ancient
Pura Ulun Danu, a Hindu temple dedicated to Dewi (goddess) Danu
Bratan, an agricultural deity who is honored by local farmers, is
another tourist attraction.

Some people believe that they can refresh their intellectual
capabilities when working in a place with such beautiful and
peaceful surroundings.

Bedugul is currently home to Bali's "Silicon Valley" with
Bali Camp in Pacung and Candi Kuning, where visitors may witness
the rapid development of the island's Information Technology (IT)
and software industry.

Bedugul also is home to a Botanical garden, a perfect place
for scientists from around the world to study its 365 acres of
tropical rainforest and thousands of varieties of wild and
cultivated tropical plantations, including a vast collection of
orchids.

In early February, a new training ground, called the Executive
Center for Global Leadership (ECGL), was opened in Bali with its
main campus in Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club, a fully-
equipped mountain resort with hotels, villas, spa, convention
hall and a splendid 18-hole championship golf course.

The ECGL was the vision of a number of ambitious
businesspeople and current and former bureaucrats.

To name a few, members of the executive board include Aburizal
Bakrie of The Bakrie group (chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber
of Commerce), Pontjo Sutowo, Tanri Abeng, Coordinating Minister
for Peoples' Welfare Jusuf Kalla, State Secretary/Cabinet
Secretary Bambang Kesowo and banker Robby Johan.

Committee members include Sabam Siagian (former Indonesian
ambassador to Australia), James R. Moffet (CEO Freeport-McMoran),
Ian Buchanan (Vice President and Partner, Booz Allen & Hamilton)
and many others.

The academic committee also includes several prominent
professors from well-known universities from all over the world.
Among the members are Coordinating Minister for the Economy
Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Roger Gill from Strathclyde University
in Scotland, William Miller from Stanford University, in
California and Ichlasul Amal from University of Gadjah Mada in
Yogyakarta.

With those VIPs on board, ECGL looks set to offer quality
programs.

As Tanri Abeng claims, it would provide a place in Indonesia
that could develop leaders, "We are eager to make a breakthrough
in producing leaders of international standard. People usually
have to go abroad to pursue this type of education and leadership
skills."

In the globalization era, Indonesia desperately needs quality,
open-minded leaders.

"...but there are still gaps all over," Tanri said after the
official opening ceremony by Minister of Trade and Industry Rini
Soewandi in Nusa Dua last month. "Gaps in knowledge, gaps in
skill, and due to globalization ... gaps in understanding between
cultures, traditions and customs, as well as between the public
and private sectors," Tanri added.

Pontjo Sutowo, who is also chairperson of the Indonesian
Hotels and Restaurants Association, added that ECGL was dedicated
to filling in these gaps with programs tailored to international
standards of education and professionalism for a very good value.

"You couldn't pay less for a similar quality of education and
training," Pontjo promoted.

For a fee of around US$2,500, executives at government and
private sectors would be able to attend a variety of programs,
conferences, leadership forums, CEO briefings and various public
sector dialogs.

ECGL will regularly invite world leaders including Thai Prime
Minister Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra as well as several visiting
professors to share their views with local participants.

If the project works well, ECGL could be a valuable
contribution to the nation which is still mired in a multi-
dimensional crisis.

But, before that, all the big names at ECGL must first pass on
their knowledge and leadership skills, before they can produce
Indonesia's leaders of tomorrow.