Hartarto to speak at Melbourne forum

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Industry and Trade Hartarto is expected to speak at an international conference on city development and the new economic era to be held in Melbourne, Australia from Nov. 20 to Nov. 23.

The four-day conference, carrying a theme of "Cities and the New Global Economy," is jointly organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Australian government, an OECD report made available here yesterday said.

"The conference will draw together world renowned speakers to examine how cities, rather than countries, are shaping the global economy," the report said.

The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Urban Management Program and the European Union are expected to join the planned conference.

The OECD report quoted the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Government Minister for Housing and Regional Development, Brian Howe, as saying: "The conference will provide opportunities for exchange based on experience of cities in developed, newly industrialized and developing countries, and help participants strengthen their networks in the fields of urban and economic development."

During the conference, OECD plans to organize an exhibition on the development of cities of Asia and the Pacific. (fhp)